The Euroleague is the most prestigious basketball tournament in Europe. It takes place every year, and the strongest European teams participate in it. The 2011/2012 season is the twelfth draw under the auspices of the ULEB (from the French Union des Ligues Européennes de Basket-Bal).
Instructions
Step 1
In the 2011-2012 season, twenty-four European clubs fought for victory in the Euroleague. Teams' entry into the tournament is determined in accordance with a rather complex license system. So, 13 teams with long-term licenses, the current holder of the European Cup (not to be confused with the Euroleague) and ten teams with one-year licenses immediately get into the championship. Of these ten teams, eight qualify at once, with the remaining two spots being played among the sixteen teams in the playoff qualifying round.
Step 2
The following teams took part in the tournament: Barcelona, Caja Laboral, Real, Unicaja, Siena, Milan, Panathinaikos, Olympiacos, Efes Pilsen, Fenerbahce, CSKA, Maccabi, Zalgiris, Bamberg, Bilbao, Cantu, Prokom, Partizan, Olympia, Nancy, Zagreb, Galatasaray, Charleroi. The last two teams got into the tournament following the results of the qualifying round. Also in the tournament was the Russian UNICS - the winner of the European Cup.
Step 3
The draw for the tournament was held on July 7, 2011 in Barcelona, according to its results, 24 teams were divided into four groups. The first basket (A) includes Fenerbahce, Olympiacos, Cantu, Bilbao, Caja Laboral, Nancy. In the second (B) - CSKA, Panathinaikos, Unicaja, Zalgiris, Bamberg, Zagreb. In the third (C) were Real Madrid, Maccabi, Efes Pilsen, Milan, Partizan, Charleroi. Places in the fourth group (D) went to the teams Barcelona, Siena, UNICS, Galatasaray, Prokom, Olympia.
Step 4
Four clubs advanced from each group to the next round of the fight, after which the TOP-16 began. The first basket includes CSKA, Barcelona, Real, Fenerbahce. In the second Panathinaikos, Maccabi, Siena, Olympiacos. In the third UNICS, Cantu, Efes Pilsen, Unicaja. And fourth - Galatasaray, Bilbao, Zalgiris, Milan.
Step 5
Eight teams made it to the quarter-finals. The first basket includes Barcelona, CSKA Moscow, Panathinaikos, Siena. In the second Maccabi, Bilbao, UNICS, Olympiacos. As a result of the meetings, CSKA, Panathinaikos, Olympiacos and Barcelona got to the final four.
Step 6
The final four took place in Istanbul from 11 to 13 May. CSKA and Panathinaikos, Olympiacos and Barcelona met in the semifinals. CSKA managed to defeat the rival, the game ended 66-64. In the final, held on May 13, the Russian club was opposed by the Greek Olympiacos. The fight was very stubborn, in the end the Greek club managed to snatch the victory, winning with a score of 62-61. The third place was taken by Barcelona.
