From: ichpc@Msu.oscs.montana.edu (Pedro de Oleiros)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.misc
Subject: European League, semifinals
Date: 16 Apr 92 17:06:55 GMT
Reply-To: ichpc@Msu.oscs.montana.edu (Pedro de Oleiros)
Followup-To: group[soc.culture.spain, rec.sport.basketball.misc]
Organization: Montana State University


	Hello, everybody:

	Last Tuesday, both semifinals of the European league were played.
I got the report from Joe today, and here it goes. I am trying to post this
articlke to both rec.sport.basketball.misc and soc.culture.spain, and this 
is the first time I try, so I apologize if something goes wrong. At the end
of Joe's report, I'll add some personal comments.

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European League: Semifinals

Yesterday the two semifinals of the european league were played. The first
one was between Partizan Belgrade and Philips Milano, and the second one
was the all Spanish Joventut Badalona vs. Estudiantes. There is a 
rule that makes team of the same country play each other in the semifinals.

PARTIZAN-PHILIPS
================

The two starting fives were Danilovic, Djordjevic, Loncar, Rebraca, and
Koprivica for Partizan, and Dawkins, Riva, Pittis, Montecchi, and Rogers
for Philips. During the first half there was only one team playing
basketball. Not always the same team, by the way. At the beginning
Philips played while the Serbs watched. Three turnovers and some missed 
made the Philips start ahead 10-1. Partizan didn't get their first field goal
until the 15' mark. After that Philips decided to take a rest, a twelve
minute rest. At the end of that time the score was 13-23. And after that
Partizan decided they had done enough for the first half and they reached
a tie 25-25. For the last few minutes both teams gave it a try and the final
score for the half was 35-31 Philips.

	At halftime the statistics were:

		Philips		Partizan

	FT	  9/13		  12/18
	2Pt	  7/13		   8/17
	3Pt	  4/10		   1/6
	Reb	   16		    16

Two important facts were that Danilovic and Djordjevic (Partizan's main
guns) had barely scored, and that of Philips' 16 boards 10 belonged
to Darryl Dawkins.

A few minutes into the second half Partizan lost Stevanovic: he commited
his fourth and fifth foul in 24". He was the only bulky player on
Partizan's roster, and was the only one who could slow down Dawkins.
Djordjevic and Danilovic woke up and were the ones who kept Partizan
in the game. Anyway Dawkins was the "Lord of the Paint" and kept
Philips ahead until the 6' mark. Partizan went ahead for the first
time since the first half (63-64). There were a few minutes of parity,
and then, with 2'53" to go Dawkins made his 5th foul. He left with
21 pts, 19 boards, and having received 12 fouls from Partizan's players.
The game was still close and Rogers made it closer with a 3 pointer
(70-73). Philips had players, like Riva, who could still resolve the
game in their favor. And it was Riva, with Philips still in the
game, that made an excellent pass to... Djordjevic (very similar
to the famous "Brown to Worthy pass" in the '82 NCAA Final). That was
the end of the game for Philips. Final score 75-82. Djordjevic ended with
21 points and Danilovic with 22. They scored over 30 of Partizan's 51
second-half points. 

	The stats at the end of the game were:
		Philips		Partizan
	FT	 27/41		 31/42
	2Pt	 15/31	 	 18/35
	3Pt	  6/14	 	  5/12
	Reb	   30		   32


JOVENTUT - ESTUDIANTES
======================

Estudiantes started with Azofra, Herreros, Rodriguez, Winslow, and Pinone.
Joventut with Villacampa, Morales, Rafael Jofresa, Pressley, and Thompson.
Estudiantes' starting center, Orenga, had had some ligament trouble during
the last week and was on the bench. On Joventut's side Pressley was playing
his first game in four weeks after braking a couple of bones in his right 
hand. 

FIBA or the organizers or whoever thought that having two teams of the same
country play each other, with the strong rivalry it entices, would mean
trouble and must have instructed the refs to start a "whistle blowing show."
19 fouls were called in the first 8'! Also there was a huge police
display in case the followers of the teams tried "something." Probably
the big news of the night was the exquisite behavior both by players and
followers. At the end of the game the followers of Joventut were shouting
"Estudiantes, Estudiantes" while the followers of Estudiantes were 
applauding Joventut's plays. The game was very strong, but there never was
a single incident among the players. After a hard foul whoever was closer
to the fallen player, no matter what team, would help him get up, and that 
was it.

The beginning of the game was marked by the huge amount of fouls called.
Herreros, Rafael Jofresa, and Morales had all to sit down due to foul
trouble and in came Aisa for Estudiantes, and Tomas Jofresa and Ruf for
Joventut. Joventut was ahead all the time, with short advantages, until
Pressley hit back-to-back three pointers from the same spot. That
opened the game (22-14). Orenga came out for Estudiantes. He played the
rest of the game. By the 10' mark the refs realized that no trouble
was to be expected and let the players play the rest of the game. 
Joventut was the magnificent team that they have been most of the
year. The team that won 26 straight games (18 in the Spanish league and
8 in the European league). No matter that two of their starters were
on the bench. Tomas Jofresa was controlling the tempo and hitting from
long range, Ruf was capturing all the key rebounds. No matter Pressley
was not his usual self (0/6 2 pointers). They were playing perfect 
basketball on both sides of the court. At the end of the first half the
score was 51-36.

	At the end of the first half:

		Joventut	Estudiantes
	FT	 14/15		 10/13
	2Pt	 11/28	 	 10/26
	3Pt	  5/5	 	  2/5
	Reb	   20		   15

At the beginning of the second half Joventut had a strange lineup:
Pressley, Thompson, Ruf, Tomas Jofresa, and Pardo leaving their top
scorer (Villacampa, 14) on the bench. Pardo took the scoring respon-
sibility with no problem: he hit two-pointers, three-pointers, whatever.
For most of the second half the difference remained in the 12-17 point
range. Estudiantes was defending to death, fighting for each and every
ball, but to no avail. Nobody could stop Joventut yesterday. Joventut
needed 20-25" on each posession to get a good shooting spot, but they 
always did. They were hitting everything from long range (8/9 3pt).
The game ended 91-69. Villacampa was the top scorer with 28 points.
Ruf and Winslow both had 10 boards (Ruf in 25' of PT). Pardo and
Rafael Jofresa hit 83% of their shots, Rafael's brother Tomas 75%.
The final stats were:

		Joventut 	Estudiantes
	FT	 22/28		 16/21
	2Pt	 21/51	 	 22/47
	3Pt	  9/13	 	  3/15
	Reb	   44		   31

The final will be played on Thursday. If Joventut plays as they usually do
Partizan doesn't stand a chance, but on a one game final, who knows
what's going to happen. 

Friday and Monday are holidays here, so I won't get back to you until
Tuesday.

Have fun

Joe Miro-Julia

Forca Penya!!!!

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	The final is played today. It must be 6:00 or 7:00 pm now in 
Turkey, so it must be about to start. As Joe mentioned a few lines ago, he
want be able to report until Tuesday, so if somebody knows the score 
before, please, post it.

	I was surprised that Partizan won. Actually, I wanted them to win, 
but I always had the feeling that the Italian teams are very tough to beat 
when you are close to the finals. I guess that in spite of the belic 
conditions in Yugoslavia, they still sre one of the best in Europe.

	Regarding the Spanish game, I had no personal interest in any of 
the teams. I wanted to be a good patriot and I expected the best to win. 
Now, I hope that Joventut wins it all. As Joe mentioned, they are a 
superteam, at least in Europe. They almost beat the L. A. Lakers with 
Magic, (they'd have won if not for the American referee who gave the ball 
to the Lakers with 23 seconds left, ;-)  ).

	And, as I don't know how to say it in Catalonian, I'll say it in
Galician:

	Forza Penya, dadelle canha `os servios!!!!

	Good luck to your team.

	Pedro                  |   Non des a esquencemento
			       |   Da inxuria o rudo encono,
			       |   Desperta do teu sono,
			       |   Fogar de Breogan.

	ichpcpm%planet.dnet@terra.oscs.montana.edu
	ichpcpm%msu.dnet@terra.oscs.montana.edu