By Antigoni Zachari/ info@eurohoops.net
After a long and challenging season, the time has come for UNICS Kazan and AS Monaco to face each other with two goals in mind: the trophy and a much-desired EuroLeague qualification for the 2021-22 season.
As Game 1 of the Finals tips off Tuesday (18:00 CET), we look back to five defining moments of the EuroCup Finals all the way back from 2003 to 2019 (since the 2019-20 season was not concluded).
Darussafaka stops Lokomotiv’s 20-game streak to lift 2018 title
Darussafaka returned to the EuroCup in the 2017-18 season after many years away from all European competitions and ended their run in the best way possible, after sweeping favorites Lokomotiv in the finals, to earn access to the EuroLeague next year.
Scottie Wilbekin posted 24 and 28 points respectively for David Blatt’s squad in this series, to land the Finals MVP honors and Darussafaka has one more reason to brag about this title! Not only did they end a 55-year drought without trophies but managed to also end Lokomotiv’s 20-game winning streak prior to the finals.
UNICS’ first title in 2011
UNICS returned to the competition after enjoying its maiden appearance in EuroLeague in the 2009-10 season. The Russian side beat Cajasol Seville 92-77 in the 2011 final, to lift its second continental trophy after winning the 2004 FIBA Europa League.
Maciej Lampe was the hero of the 2011 final, as he led Evgeny Pashutin’s squad to victory with a dominant performance of 26 points and 11 boards.
Since then, UNICS set sail into European basketball to become a EuroCup and EuroLeague regular and history repeats, as they have outlasted the semifinals against undefeated Virtus Bologna to chase after their second EuroCup title this season.