FIBA 1221
Closing off sense – Euroleague, Champions League, and market stagnation
In the first of a series of pieces looking at the business and marketing of European basketball, Emmet Ryan reacts to the news that Euroleague may fully close off entry to the new 16 team competition The civil war has been ugly. The fans have been left hanging by and large. Money talks, naturally, but […]
At least we weren’t outnumbered
Hopes of an upset were dashed early in Dublin but Emmet Ryan still found plenty of solace as Hibernia Basketball went down at the hands of Bakken Bears There are away fans in FIBA Europe Cup? Wow, didn’t see that coming. Bakken Bears had around 30 boisterous fans in Dublin for a game that carried […]
LIVE: Bakken Bears vs Hibernia Basketball
History will be made in Denmark today as an Irish basketball team plays in a European club competition for the first time in over 20 years. Hibernia Basketball open their journey in the FIBA Europe Cup on the road against Bakken Bears. The Irish outfit are big outsiders at 40/1 to win but they could […]
The Ballin After – FIBA Europe Cup special
It’s been over 20 years since Ireland had a team in European club competitions. That changes on Wednesday 28 October when Hibernia Basketball, a combined team from Ireland’s top two divisions, plays in the FIBA Europe Cup. In this special edition of The Ballin After, Emmet Ryan speaks to the players about the road ahead […]
Bernard O’Byrne on Ireland’s resurrection
It’s been a long road back to relevance for Irish basketball, ahead of the FIBA Europe Cup next week Emmet Ryan speaks with Basketball Ireland chief executive Bernard O’Byrne about the sport’s resurrection in Ireland When Bernard O’Byrne took over as chief executive of Basketball Ireland in 2011, the sport was in brutal shape on […]
Quick notes on Game 1 between Real Madrid and Bauru
The first leg of the Intercontinental Cup clash between Real Madrid and Bauru took place last night with the Brazilians winning 91-90. Emmet Ryan stayed up late to watch No rest for the wicked Several of Real’s stars were playing this game just 5 nights removed from EuroBasket. With celebrations and transatlantic flights to deal […]
La Roja reclaims the throne
The Spain everyone feared finally showed up and laid waste to Lithuania in the final of EuroBasket 2015. Emmet Ryan writes about a well-timed ascendancy Pau Gasol didn’t have to do it all by himself today. That lone stand on Thursday night had roused his team mates. Once more they entered hostile territory but this […]
VIDEO: Rudy Gobert looks back on his performance at EuroBasket
Rudy Gobert spoke to BallinEurope after France took bronze at EuroBasket 2015 where he discussed his performance, bouncing back after losing to Spain, and the French fans.
VIDEO: French fans sing the Marseillaise after winning bronze at EuroBasket
France didn’t get the gold but a packed arena gave their men an emotional tribute as they won bronze. Watch the amazing moment below.
Pau’s band of brothers
Pau Gasol has brought a battered and tired crew back to the big one. Now, Emmet Ryan writes, he must raise them one final time The field of Agincourt lies just 90km or so from here. Next month on 25 October, St Crispin’s day, the 600th anniversary of one of the greatest against the odds […]
A tale of two coaches
Aleksandar Djordjevic and Jonas Kazlauskas had a battle of wits on Friday. It was the Lithuanian supremo who prevailed and is going to the final. Emmet Ryan tells their story This place wasn’t full but it sure was loud. All day the talk was that this was Serbia’s to lose. The only people giving Lithuania […]
VIDEOS: Kuzminskas and Nedovic react to Lithuania’s win over Serbia
Lithuania’s Mindaugas Kuzminskas and Serbia’s Nemanja Nedovic spoke to BallinEurope following their thrilling semi-final clash at FIBA EuroBasket 2015, where Kuzminskas and Lithuania booked their place in the final and next year’s summer Olympics in Rio. Watch both men talk below.