By Cesare Milanti/ info@eurohoops.net
Another year of basketball comes to an end. Another year full of memories on the court to be shared, highlights to be watched and rewatched, and games we won’t forget easily.
From the beginning to the end of 2022, we’ve been enjoying amazing basketball moments. Just to name a few honorable mentions: Vasilije Micic sending Olympiacos home – we will come back to that later -, Lauri Markkanen pushing Finland against Croatia, and Luka’s historic 60 points triple-double.
As we approach the last days of the year, Eurohoops presents its Top 10 best basketball moments of 2022. But don’t worry: 2023 won’t disappoint as well.
Bursaspor eliminating Partizan
When the 2021-22 Regular Season started, there were two certainties among the European basketball community. First, Valencia, Virtus Bologna, and Partizan Belgrade would have been the clear favorites to win it all and book a ticket for the following EuroLeague. And second, the fact that the change of format in the playoffs would have brought some surprises. Well, both ended up being winning predictions, but not on the Serbian black-and-white side. Right after the group stage, Zeljko Obradovic‘s team fell apart against Bursaspor, losing 103-95 in OT with an outstanding Andrew Andrews, who went close to a double-double with 24 points, 10 assists, and 8 rebounds. Early shock.
Manresa’s miracle in the BCL
What’s the secret to a great fairytale? A tortuous path that is full of difficult obstacles to overcome, a hero who grows as time passes, and finally a happy ending, the one that sent the children to sleep. The 2021-22 version of BAXI Manresa had all the ingredients to write the perfect cinderella story. The Catalan team was coming off years of ups and downs between Liga ACB and LEB Oro, and they hadn’t reached a European playoff stage since 1998 when they played in the semifinals of the Korac Cup. Dragged by “Nobody” Chima Moneke and followed by thousands of red fans for the BCL Final Four in Bilbao, Pedro Martinez’s team got an amazing silver medal. Their moment of the year? Joe Thomasson eliminating Unicaja.