Final Four fever hits Madrid!
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 Final Four fever is sweeping across the Spanish capital now that all four participants in the Euroleague Basketball 2008 Final Four have landed in Madrid. The first of the 50 greatest contributors to be honored as Euroleague Basketball celebrates 50 Years of European Club Basketball are also on hand as the excitement continues to grow ahead of the first semifinal tip-off on Friday at 1800 CET.
Tau Ceramica was the last team to arrive on Wednesday, joining Maccabi Elite and Montepaschi Siena, who touched ground earlier in the day and CSKA Moscow, which flew in on Tuesday. Fans of the four teams from across the continent are also pouring in by the hour, bringing the spirit and the color that will fill the Community of Madrid Sports Palace for a weekend of world-class basketball.
Already on display for players, fans and media alike is the special 50 Years of European Basketball photo exhibition consisting of 187 historic pictures highlighting the moments that have made this game so beloved dating back to the day it all started, February 22, 1958, when Belgian champion Royal IV SC Anderlechtois defeated Luxembourg champion BBC Etzella 82-43 in the opening preliminary round of the new "European Cup of Club Champions." The exhibit is on display both at the official Final Four hotel and at the Community of Madrid Sports Palace.
While this Final Four weekend will salute the rich history of European Club Basketball, it will also look to the future as the Nike International Junior Tournament brings together eight of the top junior clubs in Europe to compete for that crown.
With hundreds of current and former players, even more members of the media and thousands of excited fans bringing their enthusiasm everywhere they go in Madrid this weekend, the Spanish capital has already turned into the epicenter of basketball that will continue to build to a peak on Sunday evening when the next Euroleague champion will be crowned!
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Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Euroleague.net
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