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 Three former competition winners and eight teams eyeing a berth in next season’s Euroleague highlight the teams headed to Turin for the 2009 Eurocup Final Eight. The quarterfinal matchups featuring Dynamo Moscow vs. Hemofarm Stada, Benetton Basket vs. Lietuvos Rytas, Pamesa Valencia vs. BC Khimki and iurbentia Bilbao Basket vs. Zadar promise action and thrills in the unforgiving loser-goes-home format, which unfolds over just four days. Only two teams – Dynamo and Pamesa – are back from last year’s Final Eight, proving just how strong the Eurocup is. Pamesa, the 2003 ULEB Cup winner, 2005 champs L. Rytas and 2006 winner Dynamo all hope to become the first two-time winners of the competition. Meanwhile Benetton, the Saporta Cup winner in 1995 and 1999, looks to claim Europe’s second competition’s crown for the third time. Hemofarm, Khimki, Bilbao and Zadar are after their first European title.
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| Dynamo Moscow vs. Hemofarm Stada |
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Two of the most successful teams all decade in Europe's second competition will square off in this promising quarterfinal. Dynamo Moscow of Russia won the 2006 ULEB Cup and placed third last season, while Hemofarm Stada of Serbia is a two-time semifinalist at this level. Although age separates their rosters from each other, Dynamo's veteran lineup and Hemofarm's youngsters share the same ambition - the Eurocup trophy.
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| Benetton Basket vs. Lietuvos Rytas |
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Benetton, led by Eurocup coach of the Year Oktay Mahmuti and featuring one of the deepest teams in the competition, takes on L. Rytas and Eurocup MVP Chuck Eidson as both teams look to add to their impressive resumes at this level and to return to the Euroleague. Benetton has the advantage of playing in its country, however L. Rytas’s devoted fans have shown that they will follow their team anywhere.
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| Pamesa Valencia vs. BC Khimki |
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Two teams shot down only by the eventual winners last season meet in the quarterfinal stage this year as Pamesa and Khimki look to go all the way this time. Both squads are sprinkled with players and coaches of the highest level who have seen action and success in the Euroleague, European and World Championships and the Olympics. The Eurocup crown is next on their wish lists.
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| Iurbentia Bilbao Basket vs. Zadar |
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One is a first-timer in European club competition, the other brought basketball to its country almost 80 years ago. Just the same, quarterfinal opponents Iurbentia Bilbao of Spain and KK Zadar of Croatia will be shooting for their first continental trophies at the Final Eight. Highlighting the fixture is the fact that Bilbao’s All-Eurocup forward Marko Banic grew up at and started his career with Zadar.
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