This event was very well organised by Oldham Owls with the assistance of Manchester City Council and BAE SYSTEMS. All teams and Officials were accommodated in the Crowne Plaza Hotel and Hilton Hotel at Manchester International Airport. Both hotels offered accessible rooms and facilities. The Opening Ceremony took place at 13:15hrs on Friday 02 May 2003 in the John Amaechi Basketball Centre and was compered by Tony Sainsbury MBE. Following a display, by the Rising Stars Cheerleaders, the lights dimmed and our M.C. then introduced the teams which were led in by disabled children from a local school carrying placards bearing the team name and two other children in wheelchairs bearing the team's national flag. Mike Constantino (Commissioner) congratulated the teams on their qualification and wished everyone a good tournament. Richard Clayborn MP (Minister of Sport) then commented on the co-operation between the Organisers, the City Council and Sponsors which he hoped would make for an excellent competition. He then declared the Finals open and the contest began to find the European Champions 2003. Following the ceremony as there were two venues CS Meaux and Santa Lucia Sport were immediately taken to the "Velodrome". They were escorted by two cars from the Greater Manchester Police and accompanied by the referees and table officials.

           

David Foden Chairman of Oldham Owls seen talking with Rt Hon Richard Caborn MP, Minster for Sport prior to the opening Ceremony

Steve Kilroy (Operations Support Manager of sponsors BAE SYSYEMS) with Rt Hon Richard Cayborn MP Minster for Sport and compere Tony Sainsbury OBE

      

The Rising Stars Cheerleaders strut their stuff at the opening ceremony

Pool A Matches

Pool B Matches

Oldham Owls 88 - 66 RSC Rollis Zwickau

The first half was evenly contested and ended with Zwickau leading by one point (20-19). The Owls not wanting to disappoint their home supporters improved their play, scored 26 points and restricted their opponents to 17 points.

GSD Anmic Sassari 73 - 56 Tabu Cantu

Sassari settled to the task better than their opponents and led 19-7 at the end of the first quarter. This lead proved to be unassailable and they triumphed by 7 points.

CS Meaux  55 - 71 Santa Lucia Sport

The teams did not seem to have been affected by their bus transfer from the Amaechi Centre and contested the game with conviction hoping to record a win in the first encounter. The French did not settle as quickly as their opponents and trailed 13-25 at the end of the first quarter. The advantage was reversed slightly in the second quarter and the deficit was reduced. Score 35-43. The second half began in a similar fashion to the first Santa Lucia again outpoining Meaux by 8 points. Score 43-59. In the final quarter Santa Lucia relaxed and each team scored 12 points.

SG Heidelberg 61 - 64 CD Fundosa Once

Both teams in this game appeared to be of an equal standard and at the end of the first quarter the score was tied 16-16. Heidelberg took the initiative in the second quarter to lead 35-29 at half-time but in the third quarter Fundosa restricted their opponents to single figures and had reduced the deficit to one point (43-42). Fundosa maintained their third quarter superiority and again outpointed Heidelberg by four points.

Oldham Owls 83 - 49 CS Meaux

This game began with the teams exchanging baskets and sharing the lead until the eighth minute when Oldham took the initiative. They outpointed Meaux 7-2 to end the quarter 22-14. In the second quarter Oldham continued to dominate and cheered on by the partisan local crowd extended their advantage to lead 40-25 at half time. The third quarter was more even. Oldham were forcing Meaux to take a lot of outside shots and Oldham had several good passing movements. Both Pollock (Oldham) and Fahrasmane (Meaux) scored 3 point baskets before the quarter ended 59 - 40. The final session saw Oldham increase their advantage. They pressurised Meaux and on several occasions succeeded in denying them a shot in the 24 second period. Oldham gave all their squad court time in this period and were worthy winners of the game.

GSD Anmic Sassari 74 - 60 SG Heidelberg

The teams exchanged baskets and the game remained evenly balanced until the sixth minute when Heidelberg took a three point lead which they held until the end of the quarter which finished 19-22. Heidelberg stretched the lead by one point before Sassari introduced more taller players and changed their tactics. They gradually reduced the lead and by half time were in front 40 - 36. Sassari continued to dominate. They succeeded in restricting Heidelberg to single figures and extended their lead by 13 points. 61-44. Heidelberg Coach (Christa Weber) changed tactics and the team succeeded in reducing the deficit to 13 points in the 4th minute but overall the final quarter was equally shared and Sassari were victorious. Cherubini (Sassari) scored 1/3 of his teams points.

RSC Rollis Zwickau 61 - 71 Santa Lucia Sport

Santa Lucia dominated the first three quarters of this Pool A game before allowing Zwickau to win the final quarter. (10-15), (16-24), (14-23), (21-15).

Tabu Cantu 65 - 63 CD Fundosa Once

In the final game of the day the honours were shared in the first half Cantu took the first quarter by 4 points (20-16) and Fundosa won the second quarter (19-14) to leave the score at half time 34-35. The. third quarter ended with the same scoring difference as the first (15-11) to leave the score 49-46. Fundosa made a small dent in Cantu's lead but they were unable to overcome them.

Santa Lucia Sport 67 - 73 Oldham Owls

In the ninth match the hosts were drawn against a strong Italian team hoping to maintain their 100% record in the tournament and both teams knew the winner would top Pool A. The first quarter was a close contest with Oldham just taking a one point lead 16-17. In the remainder of the first half Santa Lucia proved to be the stronger team and led at half time 45-37. Oldham were not giving up and again scored 20 points while restricting Santa Lucia to 18 points (63-57). Oldham dominated the fourth quarter and scored four times as many points as their opponents. Alberto Pellegrinni scored 24 points more than a third of his team's total for the game.

CD Fundosa Once 69 - 67 GSD Anmic Sassari

Both these teams wanted to finish in the top two of Pool B and therefore have the opportunity of winning the coveted Eurocup. The game started at a cracking pace but it was Sassari who led at the first break 12-19. The second quarter was more even and with each team scoring 20 points the half time score was 33-40. In the third quarter Fundosa scored 17 points to Sassari's 15 (40-45). This proved to be decisive because the final quarter score was a reversal of the first. Both teams had given their all and the result of the other Pool B game was keenly awaited.

CS Meaux 42 - 70 RSC Rollis Zwickau

Both teams were aware the loser would end the first phase of the competition propping up Pool A. so the game started with good defending by both sides and two minutes had almost elapsed before Zwickau opened the scoring. The first quarter was evenly contested and ended 10-10. Zwickau dominated the rest of the first half with good solid defending, they gradually gained and increased the lead. Half time 25-32. They continued the good work and increased the lead to 10 points after five minutes of the third quarter. By the end of the quarter the lead had stretched to 19 points (33-52). Within the first twenty seconds of the remaining quarter the lead was increased to 21 points. The game progressed in the same vein. Peter Tucek and Troy Sachs (Zwickau) scored 47 of their team's points between them.

SG Heidelberg Kirchheim 60 - 76 Tabu Cantu

With Heidelberg desperately trying to avoid 4th place in Pool B and Cantu hoping for one of the top two qualifying places the game began at a fast pace. The Heidelberg defence lacked consistency, one minute it was good and tough and next it was in disarray. At the end of the first quarter Cantu led 16-18. Heidelberg began the next quarter decisively and by the 6 minute were 8 point ahead but Cantu were not to be denied because they had reduced the deficit to 2 points by half time (32-30). The third quarter saw the score switch several times. Cantu had regained the lead in the first minute but in the fifth minute Heidelberg snatched it back. Cantu regained the lead in the sixth minute and stretched it to 6 points by the end of the quarter (50-56). Cantu were determined not to lose the game and scored twice as many as Heidelberg in the closing quarter of the game.

Cross-over Games

RSC Rollis Zwickau 75 - 65 SG Heidelberg Kirchheim

With both teams vying to avoid the last place play-offs the game was hotly contested. Heidelberg played slightly better than their German adversaries and led after the first ten minutes 12-16. Zwickau improved in the second quarter to lead at half time 30-26. Zwickau continued to increase the gap and led 52-42 with ten minutes remaining. The honours were shared in the final quarter, 23 points each.

CS Meaux 56 - 53 Tabu Cantu

These teams had a similar objective to their German counterparts and the commitment showed with the opening quarter finishing 15-14. Meaux performed better in the second period to lead at half time 30-24. Cantu then reversed this score in the next ten minutes to reduce the deficit to one point 45-44. With all to play for and time running out both sides went for glory. Fortunately for Meaux they defended better and were victorious

Oldham Owls 69 - 75 CD Fundosa Once

The home side were hoping to continue their winning streak and progress to the Final. Both sides played in indomitable fashion and Oldham emerged in front at the initial break 20-16. Fundosa were determined that they would not be denied a place in Sunday's showcase match as they won the next two quarters (17-23) and (16-22) to lead 53-61 at the end of the penultimate quarter. Oldham scored more points in the final session but could not deny their opponents.

Santa Lucia Sport 82 - 68 GSD Anmic Sassari

Determined that they were to be Italy's representative in the Final both teams played with passion. Santa Lucia's stronger defence proved to be decisive and they emerged victorious at the end of a momentous struggle.

7th / 8th place Final

SG Heidelberg Kirchheim 60 - 70 Tabu Cantu

With only pride to play for the teams took the court in a resolute state of mind determined they were not going to finish last. Defences played a major part in the opening exchanges with Cantu's proving more decisive. Heidelberg opened the scoring but then failed to do so again until the fourth minute while Cantu had scored four baskets. Cantu maintained their superiority to the end of the quarter 12-17. The game continued in the same vein and by the 14 minute of the game Cantu were 10 points to the better. This lead was protected until half time 28 -38. Neither team dominated the second half and they both contributed 32 points to the scores.

5th / 6th place Final

RSC Rollis Zwickau 77 - 53 CS Meaux

Zwickau took control of the game in the first quarter to lead at the interval 20 - 14. They continued to dominate and increased their lead to 20 points by half time 48 - 28. In the third period they allowed Meaux to close the gap to 61 - 44. Zwickau again controlled the game in the closing stage.

3rd / 4th place Final

GSD Anmic Sassari 68 - 73 Oldham Owls

Both teams, especially Oldham who were playing in front of their partisan crowd, were determined to go home with a medal and contested this match with vitality. Sassari proved to be the dominant team in the opening exchanges and built up an 8 point lead by the first interval 20-12. When the first half concluded the deficit had been reduced by one point 37-30. Sassari were not going to surrender their hold on the trophy and had restored their advantage by the end of the penultimate session 56-48. Oldham too were convinced the cup was theirs and gradually impressed their authority on the game as the seconds ticked away. With 1min 18 sec remaining they finally took the lead and resisted Sassari's efforts to wrestle their award away by extending the advantage.

Eurocup Final

CD Fundosa Once 70 - 73 Santa Lucia Sport

Spain versus Italy, two resolute patriotic nations, and both were convinced their name was already engraved on the Euro Cup. The teams were encouraged by numerous vocal supporters with a variety of banners and flags and assorted musical instruments. The entire game was furiously contested and by the end of the first quarter no side had an advantage, 19-19. Fundosa played the better basketball approaching half time and left the court with a four point advantage 35-31. Santa Lucia were definite that they were not going to be denied, they took the lead after a further 2 minutes and outplayed Fundosa in the next quarter, 47-59. In the closing quarter Fundosa clawed back the lead and with time running out they trailed by 6 points. A three point field goal further reduced the deficit and ensured a nail biting finish, but it was not their year.

Closing Ceremony