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radallo2
Guest
of course, Maccabi played the Adriatic League.. :-D
of course, Maccabi played the Adriatic League.. :-D
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vuxsa2
Guest
Sabonis is Lithuanian, and they are by all accounts Europeans.
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mojo132
Guest
Question from a North American...why is Israel in Eurobasket and not FIBA Asia?
Other thoughts on my mind...
Why does FIBA Oceania exist? Why does a two team zone get two admissions to the WCs?
Why is FIBA Americas a combined South and North America?
Other thoughts on my mind...
Why does FIBA Oceania exist? Why does a two team zone get two admissions to the WCs?
Why is FIBA Americas a combined South and North America?
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CoachZ2
Guest
It's a Middle East issue. In all sports they compete as a European Nation. Security of sports matches vs other muslim Middle East nations would be impossible to provide. Also they would probably boycott each other all the time.
I don't like it either, but that's the reality
I don't like it either, but that's the reality
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INTEGRAL2
Guest
As I know Arabic countries dislike Israel and don't allow them to visit to their sands so they are accepted as an European country in sport games.
My close Israeli friend told me so. If I am wrong the members can enlighten us
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vuxsa2
Guest
Nope, you're not wrong. Israel in Europe = pure politics, no geography.
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mojo132
Guest
Makes sense. Not surprising actually.
It is a shame the middle eastern counties can't be more open-minded. Sport can be a useful bridge to help understanding.
On the flip side it can also irrationally inflame passions to unproductive levels.
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Dtown2
Guest
FIBA Oceania will no longer exist after 2017, it's merging with Asia to become FIBA Asia-Pacific, which is arguably why FIBA Americas was formed in the first place (not enough competition to make two groups)
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DarkoMVP2
Guest
Well, more than 80% of the population was in in Europe. Plus, it matters where they're actually from, not where other people in the country are from. Was Mussolini African, since most of his empire was in Somalia, Eritrea and Abyssinia?
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Terrorizer2
Guest
USSR out of Europe is some good news really. Maybe, Spain is also out of Europe since they have, you know, Seuta, Melilla, that kind of stuff. If this is a too small of a pocket to count, then at least Denmark is certainly non-European because of Greenland's sheer size
Even if some Soviet Union republics clearly bore some Asian influence (Central Asian ones, to a lesser extent, Southern Caucasus), most of that country was clearly European not only in terms that most of its people lived within geographical borders of Europe but from the cultural, linguistical, religious or any other point of view. I recommend you to look up how Russian cities in the Eastern Siberia and Far East look like. Their appearance is totally European even if they are much closer distance-wise to Tokio and Beijing than they are to Moscow.
Back on topic: Spain definitely plays bad so far (well, at least considering the roster they have) but you can never know how they will fare once play-offs have started. Definitely I won't be surprised to see them emerging as champions but they can easily be eliminated by Greece, for example.
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Mika Hakinen2
Guest
I want to add 5 cent, very interesting situation with our friends from Kazakhstan, in footbal they play in UEFA competition in Europe, but in bball they play in FIBA Asia tournaments so far. It looks very funny!
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CoachZ2
Guest
I want to add 5 cent, very interesting situation with our friends from Kazakhstan, in footbal they play in UEFA competition in Europe, but in bball they play in FIBA Asia tournaments so far. It looks very funny!
That's a pure money issue
If they had an interest in bball like in football (Astana, Kairat...) they would be pushing for EuroLeague
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Efesdxb2
Guest
Funny thing is BC Astana plays in FIBA Europe Cup but Kazakhstan plays in FIBA Asia Tournament.