Euroleague Basketball announced on Tuesday that Istanbul will host the 2017 Euroleague Final Four from May 19-21. The upcoming season will be the first in league history in which all teams are guaranteed to play each other. It will be the second time the Final Four has taken place at the Sinan Erdem Dome, which opened on April 16, 2010 (Euroleague).
DECISION CONFIRMED: The EFE reported the Spanish Basketball League's (ACB) General Assembly agreed to "keep two relegation places" during the '16-17 season. This year the ACB will feature 17 teams instead of 18 after Palencia and Melilla "rejected the vacant position in the ACB" (EFE, 9/27).
BERTOMEU SPEAKS OUT: In Madrid, Manuel de la Torre Sanz reported Euroleague President Jordi Bertomeu "reviewed basketball's current situation in Europe and was once again critical of FIBA." Excerpts from a Q&A with Bertomeu are below.
Q: You mentioned in the presentation that this is a historic season for European basketball. Has the dream of having a full European league been realized, or do you have to keep working on this project?
Bertomeu: We have taken steps. If one analyzes the changes made in the competition in the last 10 years, they are all going in the same direction. Now that we are here, it is time to do it well. Although it is our obligation, it can't be expected that everything will go perfect in the first year. We have to help the fans understand the cultural change that it will mean having a regular season of 30 games.
Q: How is the current relationship with FIBA?
Bertomeu: It is a situation of dialog. I would like these conversations to bring something positive, but while we talk they continue making threats to clubs and federations. ... We are in a situation of paranoia: there are threats while we talk. I hope the European Commission takes a decision in the coming days that guarantees that this is absolutely unacceptable (AS, 9/27).
