EuroChallenge

The EuroChallenge (called the FIBA Europe League in 2003–05, and EuroCup in 2005–08)^[1] is the 3rd tier level transnational men's professional club basketball competition in Europe. It is organized and run by FIBA Europe. It is not to be confused with the EuroCup Challenge – the now defunct 4th tier level transnational men's professional club basketball competition in Europe, which was also organized and run by FIBA Europe, and played during the 2002–03 to 2006–07 seasons.

Each season's EuroChallenge winner gets promoted to the next season's 2nd tier level Eurocup competition.

History

The competition was created in 2003, following the defections of most of the top European basketball teams from the former FIBA SuproLeague, which heralded the formation of the new version of the Turkish Airlines Euroleague, under the umbrella of ULEB. Since the 2004–05 season, the EuroChallenge is considered to be the 3rd strongest international professional basketball competition for men's clubs in Europe, after both the Turkish Airlines Euroleague and the Eurocup (both of which fall under the supervision of ULEB). Though, during the first two seasons of the competition's coexistence with the Eurocup, the EuroChallenge (under names FIBA Champions Cup and FIBA Europe League) was favored by Italian, Russian and Greek teams, making both competitions quite comparable in strength.

Finals

All Star Day

Winning rosters

FIBA Europe League

2003–04 UNICS Kazan (Russia): Chris Anstey, Saulius Štombergas, Martin Müürsepp, Eurelijus Žukauskas, LaMarr Greer, Petr Samoylenko, Valentin Kubrakov, Nikolai Khryapa, Alexander Miloserdov, Alexei Zozulin, Viktor Keyru, Alexei Lobanov, Vladimir Shevel, Taras Osipov (Head Coach: Stanislav Eremin)

2004–05 Dynamo St. Petersburg (Russia): Kelly McCarty, Ed Cota, Ognjen Aškrabić, Jón Arnór Stefánsson, Vladimir Veremeenko, Andrei Ivanov, Vladimir Shevel, Denis Khloponin, David Bluthenthal, Mate Milisa, Andrei Sepelev, Igor Krotenkov, Anatoli Goritskov, Dramir Zibirov (Head Coach: David Blatt)

FIBA EuroCup

2005–06 Joventut Badalona (Spain): Rudy Fernández, Elmer Bennett, Luboš Bartoň, Andrew Betts, Paco Vazquez, Álex Mumbrú, Robert Archibald, Jesse Young, Aloysius Anagonye, Marcelinho Huertas, Dmitry Flis, Andre Turner, Ricky Rubio, Pau Ribas, Henk Norel (Head Coach: Aíto García Reneses)

2006–07 Akasvayu Girona (Spain): Ariel McDonald, Bootsy Thornton, Gregor Fučka, Fernando San Emeterio, Dainius Šalenga, Marko Marinović, Germán Gabriel, Marc Gasol, Darryl Middleton, Dalibor Bagarić, Víctor Sada, Marko Kešelj (Head Coach: Svetislav Pešić)

2007–08 Barons LMT Riga (Latvia): Demetrius Alexander, Giedrius Gustas, Armands Šķēle, Dainius Adomaitis, Michal Hlebowicki, J. P. Batista, Raimonds Vaikulis, Mārtiņš Kravčenko, Kaspars Bērziņš, Artūrs Brūniņš, Rinalds Sirsniņš, Rūdolfs Rozītis (Head Coach: Kārlis Muižnieks)

FIBA EuroChallenge

2008–09 Virtus Bologna (Italy): ...

2009–10 BG Göttingen (Germany): Robert Kulawick, Christopher McNaughton, Tobias Welzel, Taylor Rochestie, John Little, Ben Jacobson, Chester Frazier, Michael Meeks, Jason Boone, Dwayne Anderson, Chris Oliver, Antoine Jordan (Head Coach: John Patrick)

2010–11 KK Krka (Slovenia): Goran Ikonić, Matej Rojc, Simon Petrov, Edo Murić, Smiljan Pavič, Dušan Đorđević, Zoran Dragić, Chris Booker, Bojan Krivec, Dragiša Drobnjak, Jure Balažič (Head Coach: Aleksandar Džikić)

Statistical leaders

Points Per Game

• 2003–04 Duane Woodward (EKA AEL Limassol): 21.35 (in 14 games)
• 2004–05 Alvin Young (Bnei Hasharon): 22.63 (in 11 games)
• 2005–06 Khalid El-Amin (Azovmash Mariupol): 19.75 (in 12 games)
• 2006–07 Erwin Dudley (Türk Telekom): 21.42 (in 14 games)
• 2007–08 Adrian Henning (Lappeenrannan NMKY): 20.62 (in 8 games)
• 2008–09 Austin Nichols (Hyères-Toulon): 19.6 (in 10 games)
• 2010–11 Ben Woodside (Gravelines Dunkerque): 18.5 (in 13 games)

Rebounds Per Game

• 2003–04 Chris Ensminger (GHP Bamberg): 12.58 (in 12 games)
• 2004–05 Art Long (Azovmash Mariupol): 11.86 (in 15 games)
• 2005–06 Jaime Lloreda (Lokomotiv Rostov): 11.53 (in 13 games)
• 2006–07 Tadas Klimavičius (KK Siauliai): 9 (in 12 games)
• 2007–08 Andrew Adeleke (Banvit Bandırma): 11 (in 8 games)
• 2008–09 Abdullahi Kuso (BC Sumykhimprom): 8.8 (in 10 games)
• 2010–11 Kyle Landry (BK Prostějov): 9.6 (in 14 games)

Assists Per Game

• 2003–04 Stevin Smith (Strauss Iscar Nahariya): 6.82 (in 17 games)
• 2004–05 Khalid El-Amin (Beşiktaş Istanbul): 7.15 (in 20 games)
• 2005–06 Maurice Whitfield (CEZ Nymburk): 5.83 (in 12 games)
• 2006–07 Laurent Sciarra (JDA Dijon): 8.90 (in 11 games)
• 2007–08 Jakov Vladović (KK Zagreb): 6.81 (in 11 games)
• 2008–09 Earl Boykins (Virtus Bologna): 5.5 (in 14 games)
• 2010–11 Ben Woodside (Gravelines Dunkerque): 5.5 (in 13 games)

Steals Per Game

• 2003–04 Vidas Ginevičius (Alita Alytus): 2.91 (in 12 games)
• 2004–05 Alvin Young (Bnei Hasharon): 3.18 (in 11 games)
• 2005–06 Stevin Smith (Dynamo Moscow Region): 2.25 (in 12 games)
• 2006–07 Laurent Sciarra (JDA Dijon): 3 (in 11 games)
• 2007–08 Travis Conlan (Dexia Mons-Hainaut): 2.5 (in 12 games)
• 2008–09 Brian Greene (BC Sumykhimprom): 2.4 (in 10 games)
• 2010–11 Darnell Wilson (Antwerp Giants): 2.1 (in 14 games)

Blocks Per Game

• 2003–04 Grigorij Khizhnyak (Peristeri Athens): 2.54 (in 11 games)
• 2004–05 Toni Simik (KK Rabotnički): 2 (in 12 games)
• 2005–06 Serhiy Lishchuk (Azovmash Mariupol): 1.25 (in 12 games)
• 2006–07 Serhiy Lishchuk (Azovmash Mariupol): 2.05 (in 17 games)
• 2007–08 Janar Talts (Tartu Rock): 1.53 (in 13 games)
• 2008–09 Sharrod Ford (Virtus Bologna): 2 (in 16 games)
• 2010–11 Salah Mejri (Antwerp Giants): 2 (in 14 games)

Individual highs

Points

1. Deron Williams (Besiktas Milangaz) 50 pts vs. BG Göttingen (10/13 2pt, 7/10 3pt, 9/11 FT) (in 2011–12 season)
2. Fernando San Emeterio (Akasvayu Girona) 39 pts vs. JDA Dijon (2/2 2pt, 10/11 3pt, 5/5 FT) (in 2006–07 season)
3. Duane Woodward (EKA AEL Limassol) 38 pts @ Hapoel Tel Aviv (8/13 2pt, 4/5 3pt, 10/13 FT) (in 2003–04 season)
4. Kendrick Johnson (KK Rabotnički) 38 pts vs. CEZ Nymburk (7/10 2pt, 5/9 3pt, 9/11 FT) (in 2004–05 season)
5. Ratko Varda (Beşiktaş Istanbul) 37 pts @ Ionikos NF (14/19 2pt, 9/13 FT) (in 2004–05 season)
6. Michael McDonald (EKA AEL Limassol) 37 pts vs. KK Lavovi 063 (16/20 2pt, 5/6 FT) (in 2004–05 season)
7. Travis Reed (Kalev/Cramo Tallinn) 37 pts vs. BC Kyiv (16/24 2pt, 5/8 FT) (in 2006–07 season)
8. Peter van Paassen (Demon Astronauts Amsterdam) 37 pts @ Adecco ASVEL (14/20 2pt, 9/12 FT) (in 2006–07 season)
9. Nando de Colo (Cholet Basket) 37 pts vs. Barons LMT Riga (8/13 2pt, 3/3 3pt, 12/12 FT) (in 2007–08 season)
10. Damir Mršić (Fenerbahçe Istanbul) 37 pts vs. Beşiktaş Istanbul (3/4 2pt, 8/14 3pt, 7/10 FT) (in 2004–05 season)
11. Eugene Lawrence (BK Prostějov) 37 pts vs. KK Zadar (8/12 2pt, 5/7 3pt, 6/8 FT) (in 2010–11 season)

Rebounds

1. Andrew Adeleke (Banvit Bandırma) 21 rebs vs. K.R. Reykjavik (in 2007–08 season)
2. Jaime Lloreda (Lokomotiv Rostov) 20 rebs @ Dexia Mons-Hainaut (in 2005–06 season)
3. Jaime Lloreda (Lokomotiv Rostov) 19 rebs vs. KK Zadar (in 2005–06 season)
4. Chris Ensminger (GHP Bamberg) 19 rebs vs. KK Hemofarm (in 2003–04 season)
5. Travon Bryant (Iraklis Thessaloniki) 19 rebs vs. Paris Basket Racing (in 2004–05 season)
6. Art Long (Azovmash Mariupol) 19 rebs @ RBC Verviers-Pepinster (in 2004–05 season)
7. Sean Finn (Lugano Basket) 19 rebs @ Triumph Lyubertsy (in 2010–11 season)
8. Art Long (Azovmash Mariupol) 18 rebs vs. Beşiktaş Istanbul (in 2004–05 season)
9. Art Long (Azovmash Mariupol) 18 rebs vs. Dynamo St.Petersburg (in 2004–05 season)
10. Chris Ensminger (GHP Bamberg) 18 rebs vs. Skonto Riga (in 2003–04 season)

Assists

1. Damir Mršić (Dynamo Moscow) 17 asts vs. ECM Nymburk (in 2003–04 season)
2. Travis Conlan (Liege Basket) 17 asts @ KK Siauliai (in 2006–07 season)
3. Khalid El-Amin (Beşiktaş Istanbul) 15 asts vs. Azovmash Mariupol (in 2004–05 season)
4. Hakan Köseoğlu (Tuborg Pilsener İzmir) 14 asts vs. Bnei Hasharon (in 2004–05 season)
5. Eric Micoud (JDA Dijon) 14 asts vs. Ionikos NF (in 2004–05 season)
6. Avishai Gordon (Galil Elyon Golan) 14 asts vs. BCM Gravelines (in 2005–06 season)
7. Travis Conlan (Liege Basket) 14 asts vs. KK Siauliai (in 2006–07 season)
8. Smush Parker (Aris Thessaloniki) 13 asts @ Anwil Włocławek (in 2003–04 season)
9. Randolph Childress (SLUC Nancy) 13 asts vs. Maroussi Telestet Athens (in 2003–04 season)
10. Khalid El-Amin (Beşiktaş Istanbul) 13 asts vs. SIG Basket Strasbourg (in 2004–05 season)

Steals

1. Denis Mujagić (ECM Nymburk) 10 stls @ SLUC Nancy (in 2003–04 season)
2. Joe Ira Clark (UNICS Kazan) 9 stls @ Hapoel Galil Elyon (in 2004–05 season)
3. Alvin Young (Bnei Hasharon) 8 stls vs. Dexia Mons-Hainaut (in 2004–05 season)
4. Kelvin Gibbs (Hapoel Tel Aviv) 8 stls vs. KK Lavovi 063 (in 2004–05 season)
5. Adrian Pledger (Strauss Iscar Nahariya) 8 stls vs. Ural Great Perm (in 2004–05 season)
6. Petr Samoylenko (UNICS Kazan) 8 stls vs. Alita Alytus (in 2003–04 season)
7. Franklin Robinson (Maccabi Haifa) 8 stls vs. Lukoil Academic (in 2010–11 season)
8. Curtis Millage (Khimik) 8 stls vs. Maccabi Haifa (in 2010–11 season)
9. John Linehan (SLUC Nancy) 7 stls vs. BC Oostende (in 2010–11 season)
10. Petr Samoylenko (UNICS Kazan) 7 stls @ KK NIS Vojvodina (in 2003–04 season)

Blocks

1. Vincent Jones (Ural Great Perm) 8 blks vs. GHP Bamberg (in 2003–04 season)
2. Marcus Douthit (RBC Verviers-Pepinster) 8 blks vs. Ural Great Perm (in 2004–05 season)
3. Grigorij Khizhnyak (GS Peristeri Athens) 7 blks vs. Dexia Mons-Hainaut (in 2003–04 season)
4. Kšyštof Lavrinovič (Ural Great Perm) 7 blks vs. Strauss Iscar Nahariya (in 2003–04 season)
5. Denis Ershov (Khimki Moscow) 6 blks vs. SIG Basket Strasbourg (in 2004–05 season)
6. Denis Ershov (Khimki Moscow) 6 blks @ UNICS Kazan (in 2004–05 season)
7. Vincent Jones (Ural Great Perm) 6 blks vs. Skonto Riga (in 2003–04 season)
8. Eurelijus Žukauskas (UNICS Kazan) 6 blks @ Alita Alytus (in 2003–04 season)
9. Donald Little (Dynamo Moscow) 6 blks vs. ECM Nymburk (in 2003–04 season)
10. Alexander Petrenko (Khimki Moscow) 6 blks @ Bnei Hasharon (in 2004–05 season)

References

1. ^ ULEB, FIBA Europe announce new competitions names, formats – News – Welcome to Eurocup.

External links

• Official Website