FIBA Europe Cup Final Four Ready to Tip-Off In Chalon-sur-Saône

The conclusion to the inaugural FIBA Europe Cup season is merely hours away from tip-off with the four competing teams assembling in the French city of Chalon-sur-Saône for the Final Four.

Home team Elan Chalon will play hosts to Fraport Skyliners (GER), Openjobmetis Varese (ITA) and Enisey Krasnoyarsk (RUS), with Chalon taking on Varese in Friday’s first Semi-Final, followed by Skyliners versus Enisey.

Elan Chalon have been to the final of European competition on two previous occasions, most recently when they finished runners-up in the 2012 EuroChallenge season, but they are yet to stand atop the podium. This is in stark contrast to their opponents Varese, who hold a place in international folklore, with no less than ten international titles.

The Skyliners arrive as the favourites with an almost impeccable 16-1 record, but this will mean little against Final Four debutants Enisey who will look to seize their chance in a do-or-die game. Like Elan Chalon, both clubs are seeking their inaugural silverware at European level.

On Thursday, the four head coaches and team captains offered their thoughts on the Final Four at an official pre-event press conference.

Daniele Cavaliero, Openjobmetis Varese:

“Our Coach told us the other day in our arena to look up at the flags and titles Varese has won. The last time Varese won something was in 1980. For us to be a part of this Final Four and have the chance to be here and maybe get to the end, it means the world right now.”

Paolo Moretti, Openjobmetis Varese Head Coach:

"We are very satisfied and happy to be here. Our season was really tough until December. Then, after January we adjusted a couple of staff and now we are in a good balance, we are psychologically and physically in shape so we want to try and cause trouble for the home team. We are ready.”

Ilian Evtimov, Elan Chalon:

“Tomorrow’s Semi-Final is extremely important for the team, for the club, also for the city, but especially for France. We will represent our country, our team and our city in the right way. We unfortunately lost in 2012 against a very good team [Besiktas Istanbul] in the EuroChallenge Final and we can’t settle for less.”

Jean Denys Choulet, Elan Chalon Head Coach:

“We are just happy to be here. Nobody expected us to be in this position now, but we are doing well this season. We have a good chemistry this year, we have some good guys – young guys – and we play well together. And I’m really happy to have this home-court advantage.”

Danilo Barthel, Fraport Skyliners:

“We played the [EuroChallenge] Final Four last year and we came in this year to win the title. We know that it is going to be a hostile crowd and there will be a lot of fans, but there will be also some from Frankfurt.”

Gordon Herbert, Fraport Skyliners Head Coach:

“I think any one of the four teams can win it. I really don’t think we are the favourites. Enisey are a very good basketball team. They beat two very good teams in Turk Telekom and Cibona to get here. Last year we were at the [EuroChallenge] Final Four and this year we made a goal already in September to win this. That is what we are here for.”

Pavel Sergeev, Enisey Krasnoyarsk:

“I remember last season we were unlucky to miss out on the Final Four and I remember those three tough games [against Frankfurt in the EuroChallenge Quarter-Finals] so I am now expecting a fourth tough game tomorrow.”

Oleg Okulov, Enisey Krasnoyarsk Head Coach:

“It is a great experience for the club to play against such great teams. It is the biggest game in our history and hopefully we will prove that we are not just visitors here but we are here to play a part.”

The press conference was followed by a photo opportunity with the competition trophy. Royalty-free photos for editorial use can be downloaded from the following link (photo credit: FIBA/Elio Castoria): https://we.tl/JdAf5zfxP4

Watch the Final Four games live on LiveBasketball.tv and re-live highlights, top actions and the atmosphere through our Final Four Wrap on YouTube.com/FIBA.

The Third-Place Game and the Final will take place on Sunday.

Schedule:

29.04     18:30 CET: Openjobmetis Varese v Elan Chalon

29.04     21:00 CET: Fraport Skyliners v Enisey

01.05     17:30 CET: Third-Place Game

01.05     20:30 CET: Final