# 2002–03 FIBA Europe Champions Cup

The 2002–03 FIBA Europe Champions Cup was the first edition of Europe's 3rd-tier level transnational competition for men's professional basketball clubs, the FIBA Europe Champions Cup, following the merger of the FIBA Korać Cup and FIBA Saporta Cup competitions into the new ULEB Cup competition. In this first edition of the competition, it was actually the 3rd-tier level on the European club basketball pyramid, featuring 15 domestic league champions. The season consisted of 64 teams. The Greek club Aris Thessaloniki won the title, after beating the Polish club Prokom Trefl Sopot in the Final, which was held at Alexandreio Melathron, in Thessaloniki, Greece.
The competition, which was initially advertised as FIBA's attempt to revive the FIBA European Champions Cup (now known as the EuroLeague). The competition attracted 15 national domestic league champions, 5 runners-up, and teams from 30 European national leagues, which represented it as a truly pan-European event. Several teams like Split, Aris, PAOK, Lietuvos Rytas, Kalev, Fribourg , Planja, Academic, Levski, APOEL, Ventspils, Rabotnički, and Porto had played for years in FIBA's former Champions Cup (1958–2001).
The brand new competition was also joined by second division runners-up from Italy, Russia and Spain, and the newly promoted champion of the Israeli Second Division. The league was unable to make a good commercial impact, and was then dropped to being the European 4th-tier level in the following 2003–04 season, as FIBA launched the FIBA Europe League to replace it.

## Teams

| Country | Teams | Clubs | Clubs | Clubs | Clubs | Clubs |
| Greece | 5 | Panionios Freddoccino (5th) | Maroussi Telestet (6th) | Peristeri (7th) | PAOK (8th) | Aris (10th) |
| Portugal | 5 | Portugal Telecom (1st) | Ovarense Aerosoles (2nd) | Oliveirense (3rd) | Porto Ferpinta (4th) | CAB Madeira (13th) |
| Poland | 4 | Prokom Trefl Sopot (2nd) | Gipsar Stal Ostrów (3d) | Anwil Włocławek (4th) | Polonia Warszawa (5th) |
| Russia | 4 | UNICS (2nd) | Avtodor Saratov (4th) | Khimki (8th) | EvrAz (2nd, SL B) |
| Belgium | 3 | Quatro Bree (3rd) | Dexia Mons-Hainaut (4th) | Euphony Liège (5th) |
| Bulgaria | 3 | Yambolgaz-92 (1st) | Lukoil Academic (2nd) | Levski Sofia (3d) |
| France | 3 | JDA Dijon (6th) | SIG Strasbourg (9th) | SLUC Nancy (8th) |
| Israel | 3 | Hapoel Migdal Jerusalem (3d) | Bnei HaSharon | Hapoel Tel Aviv (1st, A2) |
| Lithuania | 3 | Lietuvos rytas (1st) | Alita (3d) | Šiauliai (4th) |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 2 | Feal Široki (1st) | Sloboda Dita Tuzla (2nd) |
| Croatia | 2 | Split CO (9th) | Zagreb (3rd) |
| Cyprus | 2 | APOEL (1st) | Keravnos Keo (2nd) |
| Czech Republic | 2 | Opava (1st) | Mlékárna Kunín (2nd) |
| Estonia | 2 | Kalev Tallinn (1st) | Tartu ÜSK Rock (2nd) |
| Latvia | 2 | Ventspils (1st) | Skonto (2nd) |
| Serbia and Montenegro | 2 | Hemofarm (4th) | NIS Vojvodina (6th) |
| Spain | 2 | Ourense (3d, A2) | Tenerife (4th, A2) |
| Turkey | 2 | Türk Telekom (5th) | Pinar Karşıyaka (8th) |
| Ukraine | 2 | Odesa (1st) | Kyiv (2nd) |
| Austria | 1 | Montan Bears Kapfenberg (1st) |
| Belarus | 1 | Grodno-93 (1st) |
| Denmark | 1 | BF Copenhagen (1st) |
| England | 1 | Birmingham Bullets (9th) |
| Macedonia | 1 | Feršped Rabotnički (1st) |
| Hungary | 1 | Atomerőmű (1st) |
| Italy | 1 | Bipop Carire Reggio Emilia (2nd, A2) |
| Netherlands | 1 | EiffelTowers Nijmegen (2nd) |
| Slovenia | 1 | Geoplin Slovan (4th) |
| Sweden | 1 | Plannja Basket (1st) |
| Switzerland | 1 | Benetton Fribourg (2nd) |

## Competition system

* 64 teams from countries affiliated to FIBA Europe enter a Regional Qualifying Round (RQR), distributed in three major conferences (North, South and West) according to their geographical location. Within each conference, the teams are further divided into groups and play a Round-robin. The final standing is based on individual wins and defeats. In case of a tie between two or more teams after this group stage, the following criteria are used to decide the final classification: 1) number of wins in one-to-one games between the teams; 2) basket average between the teams; 3) general basket average within the group.
* The RQR group winners and runners-up, together with the best third-placed teams, advance to Pan-European Phase (PEP). Before the PEP phase, the group champions of the RQR Northern and Southern conferences participate in a final round to contest for the symbolic title of Conference Champion- in the case of the Northern conference, the final four doubles as NEBL championship (North European Basketball League).
* The 24 teams qualified for the PEP are divided into six groups of four teams each playing a Round-robin. The group winners, together with the two best runners-up, qualify for a quarterfinal play-off (x-pairings, home and away games).
* The four winners of the quarterfinal play-off qualify for the final stage (Final Four), played at a predetermined venue. The winner gets a wild card to participate in 2003–04 FIBA Europe League.

## Conference North

The season ran from October 1, 2002 to November 5, 2002. The winner was also considered the champion of the 2002-03 North European Basketball League.
Key to colors :
* Top two places in each group advance to PEP
* Eliminated
| Group A Team Pld W L PF PA Diff Tie-break 1. UNICS 1091896724+172 2. Ventspils 1073914797+117 3. Šiauliai 1046821886−653–1 (+28) 4. Gipsar Stal Ostrów 1046805837−322–2 (+6) 5. Opava 1046829874−451–3 (+24) 6. Plannja Basket 1028767914−147 | Group B Team Pld W L PF PA Diff Tie-break 1. Anwil Włocławek 880666537+129 2. Odesa 844655686−31 3. Copenhagen 835586579+71–1 (+8) 4. EvrAz 835567589−221–1 (−8) 5. Tartu ÜSK Rock 826589672−45 |
| Group C Team Pld W L PF PA Diff Tie-break 1. Prokom Trefl Sopot 10100951718+233 2. Skonto 1073975882+93 3. Avtodor Saratov 1064881903−22 4. Mlékárna Kunín 1037895985−90 5. Grodno-93 1028764876−1121–1 (+5) 6. Alita 1028819921−1021–1 (−5) | Group D Team Pld W L PF PA Diff Tie-break 1. Lietuvos rytas 10100938670+268 2. Khimki 1064875830+45 3. Polonia Warszawa 1055830847−17 4. Kyiv 1046859901−42 5. Atomerőmű 1037770883−113 6. Kalev 1028706847−141 |
Before the PEP phase, the group champions of the RQR Northern conference participate in a final round to contest for the symbolic title of Conference Champion

### Semifinals

January 14, Vilnius Palace of Sports, Vilnius
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Prokom Trefl Sopot | 80–114 | UNICS |
| Lietuvos rytas | 94–63 | Anwil Włocławek |

### 3rd place game

January 15, Vilnius Palace of Sports, Vilnius
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Anwil Włocławek | 78–65 | Prokom Trefl Sopot |

### Final

January 15, Vilnius Palace of Sports, Vilnius
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Lietuvos rytas | 90–93 | UNICS |

## Conference South

The season ran from October 1, 2002 to November 5, 2002.
Key to colors :
* Top two places (and the best 3rd) in each group advance to PEP
* Eliminated
| Group A Team Pld W L PF PA Diff Tie-break 1. Peristeri 1091844718+126 2. Hapoel Migdal Jerusalem 1073878826+52 3. Yambolgaz-92 1055771790−19 4. NIS Vojvodina 1046850862−121–1 (+16) 5. Pinar Karşıyaka 1046792815−231–1 (−16) 6. Feršped Rabotnički 1019747871−147 | Group B Team Pld W L PF PA Diff Tie-break 1. Türk Telekom 1082801749+52 2. Hemofarm 1073825726+991–1 (+14) 3. Hapoel Tel Aviv 1073806742+641–1 (−14) 4. Panionios Freddoccino 1064820799+21 5. Levski Sofia 1019793872−791–1 (+1) 6. Sloboda Dita 1019684841−1571–1 (−1) |
| Group C Team Pld W L PF PA Diff Tie-break 1. Aris 862701633+68 2. Bnei HaSharon 853668632+361–1 (+12) 3. Maroussi Telestet 853731694+371–1 (−12) 4. Split CO 826679752−731–1 (+16) 5. Keravnos Keo 826567635−681–1 (−16) | Group D Team Pld W L PF PA Diff Tie-break 1. Lukoil Academic 1082878720+158 2. PAOK 1073858778+80 3. Geoplin Slovan 1064753705+48 4. Zagreb 1046783790−71–1 (+9) 5. Feal Široki 1046772848−761–1 (−9) 6. APOEL 1019644847−203 |
Before the PEP phase, the group champions of the RQR Southern conference participate in a final round to contest for the symbolic title of Conference Champion

### Semifinals

January 16, Universiada Hall, Sofia
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Peristeri | 84–86 | Aris |
| Lukoil Academic | 99–83 | Türk Telekom |

### 3rd place game

January 17, Universiada Hall, Sofia
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Türk Telekom | 86–70 | Peristeri |

### Final

January 17, Universiada Hall, Sofia
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Lukoil Academic | 81–80 | Aris |

## Conference West

The season ran from October 1, 2002 to November 5, 2002.
Key to colors :
* Top two places (and the best 3rd) in each group advance to PEP
* Eliminated
| Group A Team Pld W L PF PA Diff Tie-break 1. Tenerife 1091804732+72 2. JDA Dijon 1064829776+532–0 (+14) 3. Birmingham Bullets 1064746764−180–2 (−14) 4. Dexia Mons-Hainaut 1055806791+15 5. Benetton Fribourg 1028690776−862–0 (+10) 6. Oliveirense 1028797833−360–2 (−10) | Group B Team Pld W L PF PA Diff Tie-break 1. SIG Strasbourg 1073865818+47 2. Ourense 1064910861+49 3. Ovarense Aerosoles 1055878851+271–1 (+13) 4. Portugal Telecom 1055819827−81–1 (−13) 5. Montan Bears Kapfenberg 1046871906−35 6. Euphony Liège 1037799879−80 |

### Group C

| | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | Diff | Tie-break |
| 1. | EiffelTowers Nijmegen | 10 | 8 | 2 | 856 | 794 | +62 | |
| 2. | Bipop Carire Reggio Emilia | 10 | 7 | 3 | 858 | 838 | +20 | |
| 3. | Porto Ferpinta | 10 | 5 | 5 | 858 | 830 | −18 | 2–0 (+14) |
| 4. | SLUC Nancy | 10 | 5 | 5 | 814 | 764 | +50 | 0–2 (−14) |
| 5. | Quatro Bree | 10 | 3 | 7 | 770 | 848 | −78 | |
| 6. | CAB Madeira | 10 | 2 | 8 | 812 | 894 | −82 | |

## Overall winners

* UNICS (North)
* PBC Academic (South)

## Pan-European phase

The phase ran from February 2, 2003 to March 25, 2003.
Key to colors :
* Advance to Quarterfinals
* Eliminated
| Group A Team Pld W L PF PA Diff Tie-break 1. UNICS 660544428+116 2. Odesa 633522557−35 3. Hapoel Jerusalem 624511525−14 4. Türk Telekom 615478545−67 | Group B Team Pld W L PF PA Diff Tie-break 1. Hemofarm 651533457+76 2. Lietuvos rytas 633494468+26 3. Skonto 624530567−371–1 (+25) 4. PAOK 624470535−651–1 (−25) |
| Group C Team Pld W L PF PA Diff Tie-break 1. Prokom Trefl Sopot 651499463+36 2. Ventspils 633531480+51 3. EiffelTowers Nijmegen 624527544−171–1 (0) 4. Ourense 624450520−701–1 (0) | Group D Team Pld W L PF PA Diff Tie-break 1. JDA Dijon 431326305+21 2. Porto Ferpinta 422300317−17 3. Anwil Włocławek 413295299−4 |
| Group E Team Pld W L PF PA Diff Tie-break 1. Aris 642505504+11–1 (+8) 2. Hapoel Tel Aviv 642439429+101–1 (−8) 3. Khimki 624528517+111–1 (+14) 4. SIG Strasbourg 624459481−221–1 (−14) | Group F Team Pld W L PF PA Diff Tie-break 1. Lukoil Academic 651550483+67 2. Unelco Tenerife* 633487467+20 3. Bipop Carire Reggio Emilia 624391445−542–0 (+27) 4. Bnei HaSharon 624418451−330–2 (−27) $^*$In 2003, Tenerife CB signed a sponsorship contract with Unelco and adopted the commercial name "Unelco Tenerife CB". |

## Quarterfinals

The quarterfinals were two-legged ties determined on aggregate score. The first legs was played on April 8. All return legs were played on April 15.
| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Aris | 158–150 | Lukoil Academic | 91–73 | 67–77 |
| Hapoel Tel Aviv | 127–138 | Hemofarm | 52–56 | 75–82 |
| JDA Dijon | 157–177 | Prokom Trefl Sopot | 70–74 | 87–103 |
| Ventspils | 164–158 | UNICS | 88–79 | 76–79 |

## Final Four
### Semifinals

* May 2, 2003 at Alexandreio Melathron in Thessaloniki, Greece.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Ventspils | 57–79 | Prokom Trefl Sopot |
| Hemofarm | 66–73 | Aris |

### 3rd place game

* May 4, 2003 at Alexandreio Melathron in Thessaloniki, Greece.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Ventspils | 91–90 | Hemofarm |

### Final

* May 4, 2003 at Alexandreio Melathron in Thessaloniki, Greece.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Aris | 84–83 | Prokom Trefl Sopot |
* 2002–03 FIBA Europe Champions Cup
* Aris 1st title

### Final standings

| | Team |
| | Aris |
| | Prokom Trefl Sopot |
| | Ventspils |
| 4. | Hemofarm |