For most basketball fans and players around Europe the past summer's national team competitions are fading from memory as domestic leagues start around the continent and new goals are set for the 2002/2003 season. There is no difference for FIBA Europe and the new-look club competitions which start tonight with the Champions Cup. Here is a quick recap on the format and schedule of the competition.

As approved by the General Assembly of the 50 European Basketball Federations in Oostende, Belgium in May 2002, the Korac and Saporta Cups have been merged as this season into the Champions Cup for Men. The FIBA Europe Champions Cup is based on a conference system which takes into consideration geographical criteria. There are three conferences in which the following countries are entitled to participate.

Conference West – Austria, Andorra, Belgium, England, France, Gibraltar, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Portugal, San Marino, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland, Wales

Conference North – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Denmark, Estonia, Czech Republic, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Norway, Poland, Russia, Slovak Republic, Sweden, Ukraine

Conference South – Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, FYROM, Greece, Israel, Romania, Slovenia, Turkey, Yugoslavia

In total 64 clubs have registered for the Champions Cup and on 30th July 2002 were drawn into the following groups:

Conference North

Group A

Unics Kazan (RUS)
SSA Stal Ostrow Ostrov Wielkopolski (POL)
BC Siauliai (LTU)
BC Ventspils (LAT)
BK Opava (CZE)
Plannja Basket Lulea (SWE)

Group B*

Anwil Wloclawek (POL)
Euras Ekaterinburg** (RUS)
MBC Odessa (UKR)
Rock Tartu (EST)
BF Copenhagen (DEN)

Group C

Prokom Trefl Sopot (POL)
Avtodor Saratov (RUS)
BC Alita Alytus (LTU)
Skonto Riga (LAT)
Mlekarna Kunin Novy Jicin (CZE)
BDF Grodno - 93 (BLR)

Group D

Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius (LTU)
BC Khimki Moscow (RUS)
Polonia Warbud Warsaw (POL)
BC Kyiv (UKR)
BC Kalev Tallinn (EST)
Atomerömü SE Paks (HUN)

*BK Slovakofarma has withdrawn from the competition and will not be replaced in Group B

**Euras Ekaterinburg (RUS) replaces Lokomotiv Mineralnye Vody (RUS)
   
Conference South

Group A

Pinar Karsiyaka Spor Kulubu Izmir (TUR)
Hapoel Migdal Jerusalem (ISR)
Nis Vojvodina Novi Sad (YUG)
GS Peristeri Athens (GRE)
Yambolgas Yambol (BUL)
BC Fersped Rabotnicki Skopje (FYROM)

Group B

Türk Telekom SC Ankara (TUR)
Hapoel Samsung Tel Aviv (ISR)
KK Hemofarm Vrsac (YUG)
Panionis BC Athens (GRE)
BC Levski Sofia (BUL)
KK Sloboda Dita Tuzla (BIH)

Group C*

Keravnos Keo Nicosia (CYP)
Bnei SK Hasharon Raanana and Herzeliya (ISR)
Aris BSA Thessaloniki (GRE)
Telestet Maroussi Athens (GRE)
Split Croatia Insurance (CRO)

Group D

CBC Feal Siroki Brijeg (BIH)
Lukoil Adademik Sofia (BUL)
KK Zagreb (CRO)
Elma Apoel Nicosia (CYP)
PAOK Thessaloniki BC (GRE)
Geoplin Slovan Ljubljana (SLO)

*KK FMP Zeleznik has withdrawn from the competition and will not be replaced in Group C
   
Conference West

Group A

Isla de Tenerife La Laguna (ESP)
SAOS JDA Dijon (FRA)
Dexia Mons-Hainaut (BEL)
UD Oliveirense Oliveira de Azeméis (POR)
Birmingham Bullets (ENG)
Benetton Olympic Fribourg (SUI)

Group B

CB Ourense (ESP)
Strasbourg IG (FRA)
Euphony Liege (BEL)
Portugal Telecom Lisbon (POR)
Ovarense Aerosoles Ovar (POR)
Montan Kapfenberg (AUS)

Group C

Bipob Carire Reggio Emilia (ITA)
SLUC Basket Nancy (FRA)
Quatro Basket Bree (BEL)
Porto Ferpinta (POR)
CAB Madeira Funchal (POR)
Eiffel Towers Nijmegen (NED)

Key dates:

1st October, 2002 – 18th December, 2002: Regional Qualifying Round
7th January, 2003 – 25th March, 2003: Pan-European Qualifying Round
8th and 15th April, 2003: Pan-European Play-Offs
2nd and 4th May: Final Four

Conference Contact Details

Conference North

Address: Raitininku str. 4a, 2051 Vilnius, Lithuania
Tel.: +370 2 722338; Fax: +370 2 725277
E-mail: office@nebl.com
Website: NEBL.com

Conference South

Address: 1000 Sofia, 4 Saborna str., ent B, 3rd floor, Bulgaria
Tel: +359 2 989 2206; Fax: +359 2 980 7905
Email: sebc@einet.bg

Conference West

Address: FIBA Europe, Boschetsrieder Strasse 67, 81306 Munich, Germany
Tel: +49 89 780 608 0; Fax: +49 89 780 608 27
Email: info@europe.fiba.com
Website: fiba.com