Latest articles:
Eurobasket 2005 Final Standings
Eurobasket 2005 Statistics
Eurobasket Best Scorers
Belgrade Basketball Festivities
Basketball In Serbia And Montenegro

Belgrade Basketball Festivities

The 1975 European Championship, with its final round in the Belgrade arena "Pionir", succeeded to join the three elements – the supreme play of "Plavi", the magnificent audience and an outstanding TV production – what resulted in an unforgettable basketball spectacle.

For the first time, the Yugoslavians won against the Soviet Union in a great Final (90:84). Previously, in Barcelona, in 1973, the Spaniards ejected the USSR from the fight for the gold medal and assigned our players a "homework" - to confirm the title without anyone's help. And it was on the 15th of July that this very act was performed with dangerously tied result in the last moments of the game.

Yugoslavia: Rato Tvrdic, Dragan Kicanovic 22, Vinko Jelovac 9, Rajko Zizic 3, Zeljko Jerkov 1, Dragan Kapicic, Zoran Slavnic 12, Kresimir Cosic 16, Damir Solman 2, Nikola Plecas 8, Drazen Dalipagic 11, Mirza Delibasic 6. Coaches: Mirko Novosel – Branislav Rajacic.

USSR: Boljsakov, Pavlov, Miloserdov, Saljnikov 17, Bolosev, Jedesko 14, Sergej Belov 29, Sidjakin, Zarmuhamedov 4, Korkija 5, Aleksandar Belov 9, Zigili 6. Coaches: Kondrasin – Baskin.

The Organizing Committee of the 19th European Championship (7-15 June) was composed as follows: Miljenko Zrelec, President, Nebojsa Popovic, Deputy President, Vladimir Cvetkovic, Vice President, Milutin Mrkonjic, Secretary General and members – Radomir Saper, Vasilije Belobrkovic, Petar Djokovic, Goran Kapetanovic, Ratko Kasanin, Milorad Kecic, Ivan Kenig, Dimitrije Krstic, Miroslav Minic, Spiro Sinovcic, Milorad Sokolovic, Jovan Sretenovic, Vukosav Stanic, Miodrag Vasic and Miodrag Visnjic.

The competition was managed by the President of the Technical Committee, Borislav Stankovic (FIBA Executive Secretary). FIBA Commissioners were: William Jones (FIBA Secretary General), Luis Lambeo (Belgium), and Bernard Legader (Morocco). President of the Commission for Appeals was Ferenc Hepp (Hungary).

14 years ago

The turning point for the affirmation of the basketball national team after which nothing would ever be the same happened in Belgrade. But it had happened 14 years ago!

At the 12th European Championship (29 April – 8 June), "Plavi" obtained the silver medal. The first ever. And the truth is that there is only one that is the first and it will remain the first forever.

The sixth place at the Olympic tournament in Rome announced a successful generation that was going to prove its talent and golden potential before the spectators of Sajmiste (Belgrade Fare – Hall 1). In the Finals, they were defeated (53:60) by the USSR, but the audience (12.000 every evening) accepted the dynamic sport. Playing at the finals-worthy level, the national team made the skeptics change their mind, attracted fans – and their future was secured.

Yugoslavia: Marjan Kandus 2, Radivoj Korac 10, Vital Ajzelt, Miha Lokar, Zeljko Troskot, Slobodan Gordic, Ivo Daneu 18, Zvonko Petricevic 5, Sreten Dragojlovic, Radovan Radovic, Nemanja Duric 6, Miodrag Nikolic 12.
Coaches: Aleksandar Nikolic – Ranko Zeravica.

USSR: Valdman 6, Valtin, Alacacan 4, Zubkov 8, Ugrehelidze, Krumins 18, Novikov 2, Kornjejev 12, Petrov, Voljnov 6, Muzniks 4, Kandel.
Coaches: Spandarjan – Aleksejev.

The Organizing Committee: Danilo Knezevic, President, Nebojsa Popovic, Borivoje Jovanovic, Vice-Presidents, Borislav Stankovic, Secretary General.
President of the Commissions: Technical – Radomir Saper, Accommodation and Meals- Sreten Vukovic, Transportation – Vukota Cetkovic, Advertising – Milutin Bogosavljevic, Health Care – Dr. Ljubisa Koturovic, Financial – Zivorad Kazimirovic, Revenues – Radomir Alavantic, Press Bureau – Branka Prelevic, Branka Ciprus; members of the Organizing Committee: Andjelko Beletic, Branislav Boskovic, Stevan Colovic, Miroslav Josifovic, Blazimir Ocokoljic, Dragan Papovic Aleksandar Totovic.

FIBA Commissioner: William Jones.

Let us remind you that the organizer had wanted the games to be played in the open stadium Tasmajdan in the city center that could have accommodated almost 20.000 spectators. Nebojsa Popovic and Borislav Stankovic had been trying to assure the FIBA Secretary General, Mr. Jones, that there was no risk of bad weather, but when he arrived to inspect the facilities, just a year before the EC, it rained…A solution was quickly found, primarily owing to the understanding of Jasa Rajter, a long-standing director of Sajmiste. This move under the roof proved to have been a wise decision, because it was raining throughout the European Championship!