FIBA EuroChallenge (called the FIBA Europe League in 2003–05, and FIBA EuroCup in 2005–08)[2] was the 3rd-tier continental club basketball competition in Europe, from 2003 to 2015. It was organized and run by FIBA Europe. It is not to be confused with the FIBA EuroCup Challenge – the defunct 4th-tier competition, which was also organized and run by FIBA Europe, played between 2002–03 and 2006–07. In 2015, FIBA dissolved the EuroChallenge, in order to start the Basketball Champions League (BCL) and FIBA Europe Cup (FEC), in order to extend opportunities outside the competitions organized by the Euroleague Basketball.[3]

EuroChallenge
Primary logo (2013–2015)[1]
FormerlyFIBA Europe League
(2003–2005)
FIBA EuroCup
(2005–2008)
SportBasketball
Founded2003
Ceased2015
Replaced byFIBA Europe Cup
MottoWe Are Basketball
No. of teams32
CountryFIBA Europe member associations
ContinentEurope FIBA Europe (Europe)
Last
champion(s)
France Nanterre
(1st title)
Most titles12 teams
(1 title each)
Level on pyramid3 (2004–15)
Promotion toEuroCup (finalists)
Official websiteEuroChallenge

History

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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 Euroleague Basketball. FIBA was aiming to create a competition similar to the former Suproleague to rival the Euroleague. From the 2004–05 season and after FIBA sanctioned the Euroleague and the ULEB Cup, the EuroChallenge was 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 Euroleague Basketball). Though, during the first two seasons of the competition's coexistence with the EuroCup, the EuroChallenge (under the name FIBA Europe League) was favored by Italian, Russian and Greek teams, making both competitions quite comparable in strength.

Since the 2007-08 and following am agreement between ULEB and FIBA the two EuroChallenge finalists were promoted to the next season's 2nd tier level, the EuroCup competition.

In 2015, FIBA Europe dissolved the EuroChallenge, to start a new self-anointed second-tier competition, called the Basketball Champions League (BCL), in an attempt to compete with the EuroCup.[4]

Final Fours

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Year Final Semifinalists
Champion Score Second place Third place Score Fourth place
2003–04
Details
 
UNICS
87–63  
Maroussi TIM
 
Hapoel Tel Aviv
112–104  
Ural Great Perm
2004–05
Details
 
Dynamo Saint Petersburg
85–74  
Kyiv
 
Khimki
86–79  
Fenerbahçe
2005–06
Details
 
DKV Joventut
88–63  
Khimki
 
Kyiv
83–81  
Dynamo Saint Petersburg
2006–07
Details
 
Akasvayu Girona
79–72  
Azovmash
 
VidiVici Bologna
82–60  
MMT Estudiantes
2007–08
Details
 
Barons LMT
63–62  
Dexia Mons-Hainaut
 
Proteas EKA AEL
79–70  
Tartu Ülikool Rock
2008–09
Details
 
Virtus BolognaFiere
77–75  
Cholet
 
Triumph Lyubertsy
94–82  
Proteas EKA AEL
2009–10
Details
 
Göttingen
83–75  
Krasnye Krylia
 
Chorale Roanne
86–80  
Scavolini Spar Pesaro
2010–11
Details
 
Krka
83–77  
Lokomotiv Kuban
 
Telenet Oostende
94–92  
Spartak Saint Petersburg
2011–12
Details
 
Beşiktaş Milangaz
91–86  
Élan Chalon
 
Triumph Lyubertsy
94–87  
Szolnoki Olaj
2012–13
Details
 
Krasnye Krylia
77–76  
Pinar Karşıyaka
 
EWE Baskets
84–76  
Gravelines
2013–14
Details
 
Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia
79–65  
Triumph Lyubertsy
 
Gaziantep Royal Halı
87–75 (OT)  
Szolnoki Olaj
2014–15
Details
 
JSF Nanterre
64–63  
Trabzonspor Medical Park
 
Energia Târgu Jiu
83–80  
Fraport Skyliners

Finals/Final Four MVP award winners (2004–2015)

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Season MVP
2003–04   Martin Müürsepp
2004–05   Kelly McCarty
2005–06   Rudy Fernández
2006–07   Ariel McDonald
2007–08   Giedrius Gustas
2008–09   Keith Langford
2009–10   Taylor Rochestie
2010–11   Goran Ikonić
2011–12   Pops Mensah-Bonsu
2012–13   Tre Simmons
2013–14   Andrea Cinciarini
2014–15   Jamal Shuler

Records and statistics

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Performances by club

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The 2013 EuroChallenge trophy, which was won by Krasnye Krylya.
Performance in the FIBA EuroChallenge by club
Club Won Runner-up Years won Years runner-up
  Krasnye Krylia Samara 1 1 2013 2010
  Nanterre 1 0 2015
  Pallacanestro Reggiana 1 0 2014
  Beşiktaş 1 0 2012
  Krka Novo mesto 1 0 2011
  BG Göttingen 1 0 2010
  Virtus Bologna 1 0 2009
  Barons LMT 1 0 2008
  Girona 1 0 2007
  Joventut Badalona 1 0 2006
  Dyanmo Saint Petersburg 1 0 2005
  UNICS Kazan 1 0 2004
  Maroussi 0 1 2004
  Kyiv 0 1 2005
  Khimki 0 1 2006
  Azovmash 0 1 2007
  Dexia Mons-Hainaut 0 1 2008
  Cholet 0 1 2009
  Lokomotiv Kuban 0 1 2011
  Élan Chalon 0 1 2012
  Pınar Karşıyaka 0 1 2013
  Triumph Lyubertsy 0 1 2014
  Trabzonspor 0 1 2015
Total 12 12

Performances by country

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Performance in the FIBA EuroChallenge by country
Country Won Runner-up Winning clubs Runners-up
  Russia 3 4 Krasnye Krylia Samara (1), BC Dynamo Saint Petersburg (1), UNICS Kazan (1) Krasnye Krylia Samara (1), Lokomotiv Kuban (1), BC Khimki (1), Triumph Lyubertsy (1)
  Italy 2 0 Virtus Bologna (1), Pallacanestro Reggiana (1)
  Spain 2 0 CB Girona (1), Joventut Badalona (1)
  France 1 2 JSF Nanterre (1) Élan Chalon (1), Cholet Basket (1)
  Turkey 1 2 Beşiktaş (1) Pınar Karşıyaka (1), Trabzonspor (1)
  Germany 1 0 BG Göttingen (1)
  Latvia 1 0 Barons LMT (1)
  Slovenia 1 0 KK Krka (1)
  Ukraine 0 2 BC Kyiv (1), BC Azovmash (1)
  Greece 0 1 Maroussi B.C. (1)
  Belgium 0 1 Dexia Mons-Hainaut (1)
Total 12 12

Individual records and statistical leaders

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All-Star Game

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Winning rosters

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FIBA Europe League

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FIBA EuroCup

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FIBA EuroChallenge

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See also

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References and notes

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  1. ^ "EuroChallenge Logo Unveiled | FIBA Europe".
  2. ^ "ULEB, FIBA Europe announce new competitions names, formats – News – Welcome to Eurocup". Archived from the original on 2008-07-22. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
  3. ^ "FIBA Europe Board pushes ahead with attractive club competitions model - FIBA.basketball". Archived from the original on March 10, 2018.
  4. ^ "FIBA Europe Board pushes ahead with attractive club competitions model - FIBA.basketball". Archived from the original on March 10, 2018.
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