The 1976–77 FIBA European Champions Cup was the 20th edition of the European top-tier level professional basketball club competition FIBA European Champions Cup (now called EuroLeague). The Final was held at the Pionir Hall, in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, on April 7, 1977. Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv defeated Mobilgirgi Varese, by a score of 78–77. This year saw a competition system change, as FIBA opted to replace classic knock-out round qualifications with a group stage.
Competition system
24 teams (European national domestic league champions, plus the then current title holders), playing in a tournament system, entered a Quarterfinals group stage, divided into six groups that played a round-robin. The final standing was based on individual wins and defeats. In the case of a tie between two or more teams after the group stage, the following criteria were used to decide the final classification: 1) number of wins in one-to-one games between the teams; 2) basket average between the teams; 3) general basket average within the group The 6 group winners of the Quarterfinal Group Stage advanced to the Semifinal Group Stage, which was played as a single group under the same round-robin rules. The group winner and the runner-up of the Semifinal Group Stage qualified for the final, which was played at a predetermined venue.
Quarterfinals group stage + Key to colors Top place in each group advance to Semifinal group stage
Group A Team Pld Pts W L PF PA PD 1. Mobilgirgi Varese 6 11 5 1 539 458 +81 2. TuS 04 Leverkusen 6 10 4 2 558 489 +69 3. Eczacıbaşı 6 9 3 3 484 528 -44 4. T71 Sanichaufer 6 6 0 6 402 508 -106Group B Team Pld Pts W L PF PA PD 1. Real Madrid 6 12 6 0 763 499 +264 2. Sutton & Crystal Palace 6 9 3 3 568 596 -28 3. Federale 6 9 3 3 639 652 -13 4. Sporting 6 6 0 6 517 740 -223
Group C Team Pld Pts W L PF PA PD 1. CSKA Moscow 6 12 6 0 700 487 +213 2. Alvik 6 9 3 3 539 569 -30 3. Playhonka 6 8 2 4 472 556 -85 4. Wisła Kraków 6 7 1 5 495 594 -99Group D Team Pld Pts W L PF PA PD 1. Maes Pils 6 11 5 1 445 393 +52 2. ASPO Tours 6 9 3 3 553 540 +13 3. Shopping Centre Wien 6 8 2 4 523 534 -11 4. Kinzo Amstelveen 6 8 2 4 488 542 -54
Group E Team Pld Pts W L PF PA PD 1. Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv 6 11 5 1 542 470 +72 2. Sinudyne Bologna 6 9 3 3 496 482 +14 3. Dinamo București 6 8 2 4 505 509 -4 4. Olympiacos 6 8 2 4 449 531 -82Group F Team Pld Pts W L PF PA PD 1. Spartak-Zbrojovka Brno 4 7 3 1 372 334 +138 2. Partizan 4 6 2 2 400 376 +24 3. Academic 4 5 1 3 336 398 -62 4. Al-Gezira* 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 *Egyptian team Al-Gezira from Cairo was drawn into this group, but withdrew from the competition.
Semifinals group stage + Key to colors Top two advance to Final
Team Pld Pts W L PF PA PD 1. Mobilgirgi Varese 10 17 7 3 871 788 +83 2. Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv 10 16 6 4 698 699 -1 3. CSKA Moscow 10 16 6 4 869 788 +81 4. Real Madrid 10 16 6 4 998 936 +62 5. Maes Pils 10 15 5 5 743 839 -96 6. Spartak-Zbrojovka Brno 10 10 0 10 740 869 -129
Final April 7, Pionir Hall, Belgrade
1976–77 FIBA European Champions CupChampions Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv 1st Title
Awards FIBA European Champions Cup Finals Top Scorer Jim Boatwright ( Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv)
References
External links 1976–77 FIBA European Champions Cup
Champions Cup 1976–77 Line-ups and Stats