# 2002–03 FIBA Europe Regional Challenge Cup

The 2002–03 FIBA Europe Regional Challenge Cup was the one-season international European competition for men's professional basketball clubs, organised by FIBA. Although it was marketed at the time by FIBA as the 2nd-tier level European club basketball tournament, most would consider it Europe's 4th-tier level competition, after the Euroleague, ULEB Cup and the FIBA Europe Champions Cup. The aim of this tournament was to provide competitive international play for clubs that would otherwise be unable to participate in international basketball. The tournament which featured 4 domestic champions was divided in two conferences: "North" (which consisted of 17 teams) and "South" (which consisted of 11 teams). The season started on 30 October 2002, and ended on 13 February 2003. There were two champions - Azovmash from Ukraine and AEL Limassol from Cyprus. Prior to the commencement of the 2003–04 basketball season, an agreement between FIBA Europe and ULEB basketball was reached regarding the management of Europe's transnational leagues. As a result, the Regional Challenge Cup merged with the Champions Cup to form the FIBA Europe Cup, which was thereafter renamed FIBA EuroCup Challenge.

## Teams allocation

* 1st, 2nd, etc.: Club's domestic league position after playoffs.
Conference North :
| Regular season |||
| Asker Aliens (1st) | Bayer Giants Leverkusen (4th) | NTD Servis-Devon |
| Ulriken Eagles (2nd) | DJK Würzburg (9th) | ECM Nymburk (3rd) |
| Kongsberg Penguins (4th) | Kaposvari Klima-Vill (3rd) | TTÜ-A. Le Coq (1st) |
| Tromsø Storm (5th) | Albacomp UPC (5th) | Dinamo Tbilisi (2nd) |
| Honka Playboys (1st) | Azovmash (3rd) | ESO Lučenec (3rd) |
| Lappeenrannan NMKY (6th) | Khimik (1st, HL) |
Conference South :
| Regular season |||
| EKA AEL Limassol (3rd) | Igokea (5th) | Nikol Fert (3rd) |
| Apollon Limassol (4th) | Hercegovac (6th) | Žito Vardar (5th) |
| ENAD Nicosia (6th) | Brotnjo (7th) | West Petrom Arad (1st) |
| Zrinjevac (7th) | Hapoel Galil Elyon (7th) |

## Conference North
### Regular season
#### Group A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Khimik | 4 | 4 | 0 | 428 | 294 | +134 | 8 | Advance to conference play-offs |
| 2 | Dinamo Tbilisi | 4 | 2 | 2 | 397 | 346 | +51 | 6 | Advance to conference play-offs |
| 3 | NTD Servis-Devon | 4 | 0 | 4 | 295 | 480 | −185 | 4 | |

#### Group B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Kaposvari Klima-Vill | 6 | 5 | 1 | 584 | 471 | +113 | 11 | Advance to conference play-offs |
| 2 | Bayer Giants Leverkusen | 6 | 4 | 2 | 537 | 518 | +19 | 10 | Advance to conference play-offs |
| 3 | ECM Nymburk | 6 | 3 | 3 | 550 | 523 | +27 | 9 | |
| 4 | Asker Aliens | 6 | 0 | 6 | 444 | 600 | −156 | 6 | |

#### Group C

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Albacomp UPC | 6 | 5 | 1 | 576 | 450 | +126 | 11 | Advance to conference play-offs |
| 2 | ESO Lučenec | 6 | 3 | 3 | 473 | 481 | −8 | 9 | Advance to conference play-offs |
| 3 | DJK Würzburg | 6 | 3 | 3 | 451 | 440 | +11 | 9 | |
| 4 | Ulriken Eagles | 6 | 1 | 5 | 410 | 509 | −99 | 7 | |

#### Group D

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Azovmash | 4 | 4 | 0 | 413 | 268 | +145 | 8 | Advance to conference play-offs |
| 2 | Lappeenrannan NMKY | 4 | 2 | 2 | 323 | 314 | +9 | 6 | |
| 3 | Tromsø Storm | 4 | 0 | 4 | 269 | 423 | −154 | 4 | |

#### Group E

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Honka Playboys | 4 | 3 | 1 | 310 | 275 | +35 | 7 | Advance to conference play-offs |
| 2 | TTÜ-A. Le Coq | 4 | 3 | 1 | 336 | 302 | +34 | 7 | |
| 3 | Kongsberg Penguins | 4 | 0 | 4 | 266 | 335 | −69 | 4 | |

#### Play-offs

The winner of the play-offs qualified for the FIBA Europe Regional Challenge Cup Final Four.
| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| Khimik | Khimik | 78 | 92 | | | | |
| Khimik | Khimik | 78 | 92 | 11 February – Mariupol | 11 February – Mariupol | 11 February – Mariupol | 11 February – Mariupol | | | |
| Honka Playboys | Honka Playboys | 83 | 62 | 11 February – Mariupol | 11 February – Mariupol | 11 February – Mariupol | 11 February – Mariupol |
| Honka Playboys | Honka Playboys | 83 | 62 | Khimik | Khimik | Khimik | 62 |
| | | | | Azovmash | Azovmash | Azovmash | 95 |
| Dinamo Tbilisi | Dinamo Tbilisi | 91 | 95 | Azovmash | Azovmash | Azovmash | 95 |
| Dinamo Tbilisi | Dinamo Tbilisi | 91 | 95 | | | | | 12 February – Mariupol | 12 February – Mariupol | 12 February – Mariupol | 12 February – Mariupol |
| Azovmash | Azovmash | 106 | 111 | | | | | 12 February – Mariupol | 12 February – Mariupol | 12 February – Mariupol | 12 February – Mariupol |
| Azovmash | Azovmash | 106 | 111 | | | | | Azovmash | Azovmash | Azovmash | 88 |
| | | | | | | | | Bayer Giants Leverkusen | Bayer Giants Leverkusen | Bayer Giants Leverkusen | 61 |
| Bayer Giants Leverkusen | Bayer Giants Leverkusen | 87 | 94 | | | | | Bayer Giants Leverkusen | Bayer Giants Leverkusen | Bayer Giants Leverkusen | 61 |
| Bayer Giants Leverkusen | Bayer Giants Leverkusen | 87 | 94 | 11 February – Mariupol | 11 February – Mariupol | 11 February – Mariupol | 11 February – Mariupol | | | | |
| Albacomp UPC | Albacomp UPC | 92 | 81 | 11 February – Mariupol | 11 February – Mariupol | 11 February – Mariupol | 11 February – Mariupol | | | | |
| Albacomp UPC | Albacomp UPC | 92 | 81 | Bayer Giants Leverkusen | Bayer Giants Leverkusen | Bayer Giants Leverkusen | 91 | | | | |
| | | | | Kaposvari Klima-Vill | Kaposvari Klima-Vill | Kaposvari Klima-Vill | 74 | Third place | Third place | Third place | Third place |
| ESO Lučenec | ESO Lučenec | 69 | 59 | Kaposvari Klima-Vill | Kaposvari Klima-Vill | Kaposvari Klima-Vill | 74 | Third place | Third place | Third place | Third place |
| ESO Lučenec | ESO Lučenec | 69 | 59 | | | | | 12 February – Mariupol | 12 February – Mariupol | 12 February – Mariupol | 12 February – Mariupol |
| Kaposvari Klima-Vill | Kaposvari Klima-Vill | 70 | 89 | | | | | 12 February – Mariupol | 12 February – Mariupol | 12 February – Mariupol | 12 February – Mariupol |
| Kaposvari Klima-Vill | Kaposvari Klima-Vill | 70 | 89 | | | | | Khimik | Khimik | Khimik | 59 |
| | | | | | | | | Kaposvari Klima-Vill | Kaposvari Klima-Vill | Kaposvari Klima-Vill | 86 |
* 2002–03 FIBA North Regional Challenge Cup
* Azovmash 1st title

## Conference South
### Regular season
#### Group A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Hapoel Galil Elyon | 4 | 4 | 0 | 350 | 280 | +70 | 8 | Advance to conference play-offs |
| 2 | Hercegovac | 4 | 1 | 3 | 297 | 313 | −16 | 5 | Advance to conference play-offs |
| 3 | ENAD Nicosia | 4 | 1 | 3 | 239 | 293 | −54 | 5 | |

#### Group B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Igokea | 6 | 5 | 1 | 580 | 430 | +150 | 11 | Advance to conference play-offs |
| 2 | West Petrom Arad | 6 | 3 | 3 | 406 | 418 | −12 | 9 | Advance to conference play-offs |
| 3 | Apollon Limassol | 6 | 3 | 3 | 405 | 427 | −22 | 9 | Advance to conference play-offs |
| 4 | Žito Vardar | 6 | 1 | 5 | 431 | 475 | −44 | 7 | |

#### Group C

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | EKA AEL Limassol | 6 | 6 | 0 | 499 | 441 | +58 | 12 | Advance to conference play-offs |
| 2 | Zrinjevac | 6 | 3 | 3 | 457 | 470 | −13 | 9 | Advance to conference play-offs |
| 3 | Brotnjo | 6 | 2 | 4 | 446 | 436 | +10 | 8 | Advance to conference play-offs |
| 4 | Nikol Fert | 6 | 1 | 5 | 441 | 496 | −55 | 7 | |

#### Play-offs

The winner of the play-offs qualified for the FIBA Europe Regional Challenge Cup Final Four.
| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| Apollon Limassol | Apollon Limassol | 86 | 67 | | | | |
| Apollon Limassol | Apollon Limassol | 86 | 67 | 12 February – Limassol | 12 February – Limassol | 12 February – Limassol | 12 February – Limassol | | | |
| Hapoel Galil Elyon | Hapoel Galil Elyon | 86 | 65 | 12 February – Limassol | 12 February – Limassol | 12 February – Limassol | 12 February – Limassol |
| Hapoel Galil Elyon | Hapoel Galil Elyon | 86 | 65 | Apollon Limassol | Apollon Limassol | Apollon Limassol | 52 |
| | | | | EKA AEL Limassol | EKA AEL Limassol | EKA AEL Limassol | 73 |
| EKA AEL Limassol | EKA AEL Limassol | 97 | 95 | EKA AEL Limassol | EKA AEL Limassol | EKA AEL Limassol | 73 |
| EKA AEL Limassol | EKA AEL Limassol | 97 | 95 | | | | | 13 February – Limassol | 13 February – Limassol | 13 February – Limassol | 13 February – Limassol |
| Brotnjo | Brotnjo | 74 | 78 | | | | | 13 February – Limassol | 13 February – Limassol | 13 February – Limassol | 13 February – Limassol |
| Brotnjo | Brotnjo | 74 | 78 | | | | | EKA AEL Limassol | EKA AEL Limassol | EKA AEL Limassol | 92 |
| | | | | | | | | Igokea | Igokea | Igokea | 82 |
| Zrinjevac | Zrinjevac | 83 | 99 | | | | | Igokea | Igokea | Igokea | 82 |
| Zrinjevac | Zrinjevac | 83 | 99 | 12 February – Limassol | 12 February – Limassol | 12 February – Limassol | 12 February – Limassol | | | | |
| Igokea | Igokea | 89 | 120 | 12 February – Limassol | 12 February – Limassol | 12 February – Limassol | 12 February – Limassol | | | | |
| Igokea | Igokea | 89 | 120 | Igokea | Igokea | Igokea | 79 | | | | |
| | | | | West Petrom Arad | West Petrom Arad | West Petrom Arad | 64 | Third place | Third place | Third place | Third place |
| Hercegovac | Hercegovac | 100 | 52 | West Petrom Arad | West Petrom Arad | West Petrom Arad | 64 | Third place | Third place | Third place | Third place |
| Hercegovac | Hercegovac | 100 | 52 | | | | | 13 February – Limassol | 13 February – Limassol | 13 February – Limassol | 13 February – Limassol |
| West Petrom Arad | West Petrom Arad | 75 | 81 | | | | | 13 February – Limassol | 13 February – Limassol | 13 February – Limassol | 13 February – Limassol |
| West Petrom Arad | West Petrom Arad | 75 | 81 | | | | | Apollon Limassol | Apollon Limassol | Apollon Limassol | 79 |
| | | | | | | | | West Petrom Arad | West Petrom Arad | West Petrom Arad | 65 |
* 2002–03 FIBA South Regional Challenge Cup
* AEL Limassol 1st title

## Finals

| Year | Final | Final | Final | Third and fourth place | Third and fourth place |
| Year | Champion | Score | Second place | 3rd | 4th |
| 2002–03 Details | North Conf. South Conf. Mariupol EKA AEL | North Conf. South Conf. 88 –61 92–82 | North Conf. South Conf. Bayer Leverkusen Igokea | North Conference South Conf. Kaposvári Pizza Express Apollon | North Conf. South Conf. Khimik West Petrom Arad |

## Finals MVP

| Season | Player | Pos. | Club |
| 2002–03 | Duane Woodward | PG/SG | EKA AEL |

## Winning rosters

FIBA Europe Regional Challenge Cup:
North Conference:
* 2002–03 Azovmash Mariupol
Volodymyr Gurtovyy, Andriy Kapinos, Andriy Botichev, Oleksandr Skutyelnik, Igor Kharchenko, Sergiy Moskalenko, Petro Podtykan, Yevhenii Annienkov, Dmytro Briantsev (Head Coach: Andrij Podkovyrov)
South Conference:
* 2002–03 EKA AEL Limassol
Dimitris Prokopiou, Marcos Asonitis, Georgios Kouzapas, Michalis Kounounis, Davor Kurilic, Konstantinos Perentos, Ranko Velimirovic, David Michael Van Dyke, Christos Spyrou, Duane Woodward (Head Coach: Dragan Raca).