EuroBasket 2009
The 2009 FIBA European Championship began on the 7th of September and concluded with the final game on the 20th of September. Poland hosted this thirty-sixth regional basketball championship for Europe. The event served as a direct qualification tournament for the 2010 FIBA World Championship held in Turkey. Spain claimed their first EuroBasket title by defeating Serbia with a score of 85 to 63. Greece secured the bronze medal through a narrow 57 to 56 victory over Slovenia.
The draw for the qualifying round took place on the 16th of February 2008 in Venice, Italy. Poland qualified automatically as the host nation alongside seven top-placed nations from EuroBasket 2007. Winners of four groups and three best second-place teams advanced to the final round during the autumn months. An additional qualifying round ran from the 5th to the 30th of August 2009 to determine the last ticket holder. Teams were divided into four seeding pots based on results from recent official competitions.
Seven venues across different Polish cities hosted the preliminary and knockout stages of the competition. Hala Olivia in Gdańsk held 5,500 spectators while Hala Arena in Poznań accommodated 5,000 fans. Warsaw's Hala Torwar also seated 5,000 people during group matches. Wrocław utilized Hala Stulecia which had a capacity of 7,000 attendees. Bydgoszcz used Łuczniczka with an 8,000 seat limit and Łódź featured Atlas Arena holding 13,400 people. The entire knockout stage played out at Spodek Arena in Katowice with 11,500 seats available.
The Polish Basketball Federation announced Mieszko the Bison as the official mascot during a press conference in Warsaw. This European bison is the largest wild animal found within Poland's forests. Almost one fifth of the world's population of bisons lives inside Poland today. The name Mieszko references the first documented Polish ruler who united the country in the tenth century. He wears a white jersey showing the tournament logo paired with white shorts featuring red side stripes.
Spain raced to a double-digit lead early in the first quarter against Serbia. They built an unassailable 52 to 29 lead by halftime before winning 85 to 63. Pau Gasol recorded a double-double with eighteen points and eleven rebounds for Spain. Rudy Fernandez added thirteen points and five rebounds to support his teammate. Uroš Tripković and Novica Veličković each scored fifteen points in a losing effort for Serbia. Greece captured bronze with a fifty-seven to fifty-six victory over Slovenia.
Pau Gasol won the tournament MVP award after leading all players in scoring with 168 total points. Tony Parker finished second in scoring with 142 points across eight games. Erazem Lorbek ranked third with 148 points over nine matches. Miloš Teodosić led all players in assists with forty-seven total dimes. Marcin Gortat topped the rebounding charts with sixty-five boards collected during six games. The All-Tournament Team included Spanoulis, Teodosić, Fernandez, Lorbek, and Gasol as the centerpiece selection.
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Common questions
When did the 2009 FIBA European Championship take place?
The 2009 FIBA European Championship began on the 7th of September and concluded with the final game on the 20th of September.
Who won the EuroBasket 2009 tournament title?
Spain claimed their first EuroBasket title by defeating Serbia with a score of 85 to 63.
Which cities hosted venues for the EuroBasket 2009 competition in Poland?
Seven venues across Gdańsk, Poznań, Warsaw, Wrocław, Bydgoszcz, Łódź, and Katowice hosted the preliminary and knockout stages of the competition.
What is the name of the official mascot for the 2009 FIBA European Championship?
Mieszko the Bison served as the official mascot announced during a press conference in Warsaw.
How many points did Pau Gasol score to win the MVP award at EuroBasket 2009?
Pau Gasol led all players in scoring with 168 total points to win the tournament MVP award.