By Stathis Trapezanlidis/ info@eurohoops.net
European leagues are all completed and Armani Milan was the last team to be crowned a champion at the 28th of June. The countdown to World Cup 2014, which be held in Spain, has begun and Eurohoops rounds up for you all champions of major leagues in Europe and the way they got their title.
Lega A (Italy):
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan – MVP Alessandro Gentile
To begin with, Olimpia Milano (26 championships) is the new champion in Lega A winning game 7 (4-3) against Siena, which had 7 consecutive championships. Alessandro Gentile is the MVP of the finals.
HEBA (Greece):
Panathinaikos Athens – MVP Dimitris Diamantidis
In Greece, Panathinaikos (34 championships) won for second consecutive year the league against Olympiacos in game 5 (3-2). Greens leader, Dimitris Diamantidis, was the MVP.
LNB PRO A (France):
CSP Limoges – MVP Alex Acker
In France, Limoges (10 championships) returned to the top with a sweep (3-0) in LNB PRO A finals against Strasbourg. The American guard, Alex Acker, was the MVP.
BEKO BBL (Germany):
FC Bayern Munich – MVP Malcolm Delaney
Bayern Munich (3 championships) is the new BEKO BBL champion winning Alba Berlin (3-1) in finals. Malcolm Delaney, who had an amazing season, was the MVP.
Liga Endesa (Spain):
FC Barcelona – MVP Juan Carlos Navarro
Barcelona (18 championships) although it had home disadvantage, beat Real Madrid (3-1) and won Liga Endesa. Catalans leader, Juan Carlos Navarro, was the MVP of the finals.
SUPER LIGA (Serbia):
Partizan NIS Belgrade – MVP Bogdan Bogdanovic
In Serbia, Partizan (21 championships) won the championship beating (3-1) Red Star in finals. The talented young, Bogdan Bogdanovic, was the MVP of the series.
TBL (Turkey):
Fenerbahce Ulker Istanbul – MVP Bob McCalebb
Fenerbahce (6 championships) is the new champion in Turkey beating (4-3) Galatasaray. Game 7 was not conducted after Galatasaray decided to not play. Most valuable player of the finals was Bob McCalebb.
ABA League (Adriatic League):
Cibona Zagreb – MVP Dario Saric
Cibona Zagreb (18 championships), with most valuable player Dario Saric, beat Cedevita 72-59 in the final and won Adriatic League for first time in its history.
A1 Liga (Croatia):
Cedevita – MVP Nolan Smith
Cedevita avenged in National League winning the championship – which was the first in its history – with a sweep (3-0) against Cibona. Nolan Smith was the MVP of the finals.
Ethias Ligue (Belgium):
Telenet BC Ostend – Dusan Djordjevic
In Belgium, Oostende (15 championships, 3 in a row) won game 5 (3-2) against Aalstar and took the championship. Dusan Djordjevic was the MVP.
NBL (Bulgaria):
Levski Sofia
In Bulgaria, Levski (18 championships, 2001 the last one) won also game 5 (3-2) against Lukoil Academic and took the championship.
MATTONI NBL (Czech Republic):
CEZ Basketball Nymburk – MVP Rasid Mahalbasic
In Czech Republic, Nymburk (11 championships in a row!) had no trouble against Ariete Prostejov and won one more championship with a sweep (3-0). The 24 year old center, Rasid Mahalbasic, was the MVP.
Winner League (Israel):
Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv – MVP Tyrese Rice
Maccabi Tel Aviv (51 championships) completed in the best way an amazing season (Triple Crown) winning the championship in Israel against Μaccabi Haifa (better point-difference in two games). Tyrese Rice was the MVP.
ALDARIS LBL (Latvia):
BK Ventspils – MVP Janis Timma
In Latvia, Ventspils (9 championships) beat 4-1 Riga and took the championship. Janis Timma was the MVP of the series.
PLK TAURON Basket Liga (Poland):
PGE Turow Zgorzelec – MVP Filip Dylewicz
In Poland, Turow Zgorzelec (1 championship) although it was the underdog, managed to beat Zielona Gora in finals (4-2) and won its first championship. Filip Dylewicz was the MVP.
BEKO LKL (Lithuania):
Zalgiris Kaunas – MVP Paulius Jankunas
In Lithuania, Zalgiris Kaunas (16 championships, 4 in a row) won one more championship beating (4-2) Neptunas Klaipeda in finals. Paulius Jankunas was the MVP of the series.
LIGA TELEMACH (Slovenia):
Krka Novo Mesto – MVP Jaka Klobucar
KRKA (7 championships, 5 in a row) is again the champion in Slovenia, after winning game 5 (3-2) in finals against Olimpija Ljubljana. Jaka Klobucar was the MVP of the series.
Dutch Basketball League (The Netherlands):
Gas Terra Flames Groeningen – MVP Arvin Slagter
In Netherlands, Gas Terra Flames (4 championships) won game 7 (4-3) against Shoeters Den Bosch and took the championship, while Arvin Slagter was the MVP of the finals.
SUPERLEAGUE (Ukraine):
Budivelnik Kiev – MVP Darjus Lavrinovic
In Ukraine, Budivelnyk (8 championships) won 3-1 Khimik and took its second championship in a row. Veteran Darjus Lavrinovic was the MVP of the finals.
VTB League:
CSKA Moscow – MVP Milos Teodosic
Finally, CSKA (21 championships, 12 in a row) won VTB league with a sweep (3-0) against Nizhny Novgorod in finals and in the last moment saved a season that was threatened to end without a title. Milos Teodosic was the MVP of the series.