BASKETBALL IN EUROPE

14,000 fans attended the game between Antwerp Giants and Charleroi in Antwerp

Huge crowds have been turning out to watch basketball games in Europe, including 15,128 that packed the Palau St Jordi in Barcelona to see Real Madrid beat FC Barcelona Regal 91-74 in Sunday's Copa del Rey Final.

The number of spectators surpassed the previous high of a Copa Final, which was 14,814 last year in Bilbao.

That title game was also between Real Madrid and Barcelona.

The average number of fans to watch the seven Copa del Rey clashes this year was 13,674.

In Belgium, the domestic cup competition isn't staged over four days as in Spain or Italy, but over the course of a season.

The Port of Antwerp Giants hosted the second leg of their Quarter-Final clash with Charleroi in front of a Belgian record crowd of 14,000 at the Sportpaleis Arena.

Antwerp, who are in the Last 16 of the EuroChallenge, lost the game 74-65 but prevailed in the tie by virtue of their 81-50 rout in the first leg.

The previous record attendance had been 13,000 for a play-off game that was also held at Antwerp in 2010.