By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
While EuroLeague is on an indefinite hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, the organization is planning to hold the 2020 Final Four in Cologne, Germany, during the previously scheduled dates of May 22-24.
“We are faced with a very fluid situation,” EuroLeague Basketball Chief Operating Officer Eduard Scott said to Serbian website Sport Klub. “New information is emerging on a daily, now even at an hourly level. The decisions that are made regarding our competitions are based on this. Our current plan is to host the EuroLeague Final Four in Cologne at the previously scheduled date. However, if necessary, we will reopen this subject depending on how the coronavirus situation in European territory is developing.” EuroLeague and EuroCup were suspended until the 11th of April.
“We are currently not considering canceling EuroLeague competitions. Our goal is to have EuroLeague and EuroCup champions, one way or another, whatever the way. Also, our policies don’t take into account modifications to existing competition formats. Therefore, depending on the situation, we will sit down together with the club and decide exactly how and when the season ends,” Scott added. Partizan Belgrade president Ostoja Mihailovic had proposed the idea of a Final Eight in EuroCup, in order to determine the champion.
Scott also said that the 2020-2021 EuroLeague may include two ABA League teams, depending on how far Partizan will go in the 2019-2020 EuroCup.
“The EuroLeague licensing rules for the 2020-2021 season include three annual wild cards, one of which is reserved as a priority for the ABA League champion. If the ABA League champion isn’t Partizan and Partizan is either the EuroCup champion or runner-up and is thus directly placed in the 2020-2021 EuroLeague, there’s a possibility that two ABA League teams will participate in EuroLeague next season,” Scott mentioned.