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| NEWSAriel McDonald produced a performance for the ages to guide Girona to their first ever piece of European silverware against Azovmash Mariupol in the EuroCup Final.
The 35-year old veteran scored a season high 25 points to spearhead a superb Girona display in the face of a valiant opponent in Azovmash. |
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Lithuanian guard Renaldas Seibutis has signed a new three-year contract at Olympiacos. The 1.96m shooting guard, who shot to fame when leading his country to a gold medal at the FIBA U21 World Championship in Argentina two years ago, was drafted in the second round by the Dallas Mavericks last week but a move to America will not happen anytime soon. |
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Akasvayu Girona and Estudiantes both suffered post-EuroCup hangovers on Wednesday night as they slumped to away defeats in the ACB, going down to Real Madrid and Gran Canaria Grupo Dunas respectively.
Akasvayu, who beat Azovmash to win the EuroCup title on Sunday, fell to an 83-72 loss at ACB leaders Madrid at the Palacio Vistalegre. |
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Few thought that Azovmash would defeat Virtus Bologna on Friday to earn a place in the finals.
And many thought that Girona would prevail in easy fashion in the title game. |
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Akasvayu Girona coach Svetislav Pesic wrote another chapter to his legendary career by leading the Spanish outfit to EuroCup glory on Sunday.
Pesic moved to Girona in the summer from Lottomatica Roma and won the title in his very first season in thrilling fashion as his men prevailed 79-72 over Azovmash. |
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Virtus Bologna captain Fabio Di Bella believes his team claimed a very important victory on Sunday after clinching third place in the EuroCup Final Four with a 80-62 triumph over Estudiantes.
The Italians lost a heartbreaker to Azovmash in the semi-final on Friday but hit back in style and will now attempt to secure their place in the Lega A play-offs. |
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On Friday evening just in front of the main entrance at the Pavello Fontajau, Girona’s Ariel McDonald kissed two-year old son Bailey goodbye so that he could meet up with his team. As Ariel walked away, Bailey was crying and holding out his arms hoping his father would come back immediately.
This evening, the father and son were celebrating together a EuroCup title and the elder McDonald’s MVP performance. |
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Virtus Bologna overcame the disappointment of Friday’s semi-final loss against Azovmash Mariupol to claim victory against MMT Estudiantes in the game for third place at the EuroCup Final Four in Girona.
In what proved to be a lacklustre affair, Bologna managed to build a small lead in the first quarter which they then protected with little difficulty for the remainder of the contest. |
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FINAL FOUR PREVIEWSIf ever a team needs an example to follow when times are tough, they should look at the example Estudiantes set this season.
Mired in a losing streak that had seen them plummet towards the relegation zone in the Spanish ACB, the proud Madrid club parted ways with Pedro Martinez and brought in Mariano de Pablos on February 7 as their new coach. |
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Azovmash played second fiddle to fellow Ukraine outfit BC Kyiv in recent EuroCup campaigns with the latter reaching consecutive Final Fours and even hosting last year's event.
That wasn't the case in 2006-07, however. |
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From the very moment Akasvayu Girona confirmed their participation in this season's EuroCup, the Spanish club was installed as one of the favourites to win the competition.
They sure have played like the team to beat. |
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The EuroCup Final Four will be another big moment in a season of big moments for Virtus Bologna.
A proud club that has won European crowns before, Virtus have this season surpassed expectations to challenge for honours in both Italy and Europe. |
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INSIDE THE EUROCUP"Raul Lopez in Girona?!?".
Europe went crazy in the summer of 2005 when the first rumours emerged about a new giant in Europe. Why would Raul Lopez leave the NBA for a team that didn't do anything special in the Spanish league and had never had a big budget? |
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Two things Azovmash earned in the 2007 Final Four – experience and respect - and each is very important for the future of the Ukrainian club.
In my prediction article for this EuroCup I hit on three of the four Final Four participants and the eventual champ, but the only team I missed in the Final Four was Azovmash. |
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It was in 1994 when Ariel McDonald first arrived in Europe to play for Castros Braine of Belgium. After Belgium McDonald had stints in Olimpija Ljubljana (Slovenia), Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel), Panathinaikos (Greece), Dynamo Moscow (Russia) and now in Spain with Girona.
McDonald has won two major European titles in his career and was named MVP on both occasions. The first came in 2001 and the SuproLeague Final Four with Maccabi Tel Aviv and the second at the EuroCup with Girona. |
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Playing with a target on their backs all season, Akasvayu Girona on Sunday proved themselves more than worthy EuroCup champions - led by their mastermind coach Svetislav Pesic and seasoned veteran Arriel McDonald.
Pesic guided Girona to the promised land to notch yet another title in his impressive career. |
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| FINAL STANDINGS |
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COMPETITIONIt's Final Four time and and to celebrate the occasion fibaeurope.com is offering some exlusive prizes in a beat the caption competition.
All you have to do is take a look at the two pictures below. If you think you can write a better caption than ours, send us an email. |
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INSIDE THE EUROCUP"Raul Lopez in Girona?!?".
Europe went crazy in the summer of 2005 when the first rumours emerged about a new giant in Europe. Why would Raul Lopez leave the NBA for a team that didn't do anything special in the Spanish league and had never had a big budget? |
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