ESP - Past and present greats recognised at Euroleague Top 16 draw

MADRID (Euroleague) - CSKA Moscow learned on Monday they would play Unicaja Malaga, Barcelona and Lottomatica Roma in Group G of the Top 16, and Panathinaikos discovered they would go up against Montepaschi Siena, Efes Pilsen and Partizan Belgrade.

But  the more significant moment of a very important afternoon in Madrid came when great names of past and present in European basketball were recognised for the impact they have had on the sport.

A panel of experts, headed by the legend Borislav Stankovic, was created to choose the list of the 50 greatest contributors to the Euroleague since its launch in the 1957-58 season.

Stankovic, the FIBA Secretary General Emeritus, and the panel chose players like Panagiotis Yannakis, Arvydas Sabonis and the late Drazen Petrovic, while selecting coaching greats like Dan Peterson, Zeljko Obradovic and Pini Gershon.

The Euroleague has reminded everyone at various intervals that this year marks the 50th anniversary of European club basketball.

Jordi Bertomeu, the chief executive off the Euroleague, paid tribute to FIBA in his remarks.

He said: "This is also the time to remember that 50 years ago FIBA had the vision to create competitions that we are able to enjoy today, so this is why this 50 years celebration must pay homage

to their creators and we should express our gratitude to them."

As for the rest of the Top 16 Draw, Lietuvos Rytas will take on Tau Ceramica, Fenerbahce Ulker and Aris TT Bank in Group E while in Group F, Real Madrid will clash with Maccabi Elite, Zalgiris Kaunas and Olympiacos.

TOP 16 DRAW RESULTS 
GROUP D 
Panathinaikos 
Montepaschi Siena 
Efes Pilsen 
Partizan Igokea 

GROUP E 
Lietuvos Rytas 
Tau Ceramica 
Fenerbahce Ulker 
Aris TT Bank 

GROUP F 
Real Madrid 
Maccabi Elite 
Zalgiris 
Olympiacos 

GROUP G 
CSKA Moscow 
Unicaja 
AXA FC Barcelona 
Lottomatica Roma 


50 GREATEST CONTRIBUTORS LIST 

PLAYERS 
F. Alvertis 
S. Belov 
M. Berkowitz 
D. Bodiroga 
W. Brabender 
J.A. Corbalan 
K. Cosic
M. D'Antoni 
D. Dalipagic 
P. Danilovic 
M. Delibasic 
V. Divac 
A. Djordjevic 
N. Galis 
M. Ginobili 
S. Jasikevicius 
R. Korac
T. Kukoc 
C. Luyk 
P. Marzorati 
B. MacAdoo 
D. Meneghin 
B. Morse
A. Ossola 
T. Papaloukas
A. Parker 
D. Petrovic
D. Radja 
M. Raga 
A. Riva 
E. Rodriguez
A. Sabonis 
J. A. San Epifanio
W. Szczerbiak 
P. Yannakis  . 

COACHES 
P. Ferrandiz 
P. Gershon 
A. Gomelskiy 
D. Ivkovic 
B. Maljkovic 
E. Messina 
A. Nikolic 
Z. Obradovic 
D. Peterson 
L. Sainz 

REFEREES 
A. Aradabjian
M. Davidov 
L. Kotleba 
I. Mainini 
C. Rigas  . 

FIBA