Ljubljana Honoured the First Champions and Founders of Regional Competition in Stožice Arena
It has been a historical Sunday night in Ljubljana. During the game of the Round 7 of the AdmiralBet ABA League Top 8 between Cedevita Olimpija and Partizan Mozzart Bet, a ceremony took place where the first champions of the regional competition, the squad of Union Olimpija from the 2001/02 season and the founders of the regional competition have been honoured, as part of the celebration, related to the 25th anniversary of the ABA League.
(Photo: Cedevita Olimpija/Ales Fevzer)
As part of the celebration, related to the 25th anniversary of the ABA League, there has been a ceremony in Stožice Arena, where the founders of the regional competition, as well as the Union Olimpija team, that have become the first to lift the regional league trophy, on 24 March 2002.
During the halftime, on the court of Stožice Arena, while the 5,000 strong crowd applauded, the ABA League j.t.d. Director Dubravko Kmetović, Sports Director Milija Vojinović and Cedevita Olimpija General Manager Davor Užbinec have greeted and awarded them them the special plaquettes, 2001/02 Union Olimpija head coach Zmagoslav Sagadin and players Vlado Ilievski, Vladimer Boisa, Stipe Modrić, Jurij Zdovc, Nedim Dal, Haris Mujezinović, Jasmin Hukić and Vujadin Subotić, which have been the first that lifted the trophy of the regional champions, by defeating Krka in the Final on 24 March 2002 in Tivoli Sports Hall, while their former teammates Jiri Welsch, Jurica Golemac, Beno Udrih and Tunji Awojobi did not make it to the game due to various legitimate reasons.
During the ceremony, the ABA League j.t.d. also honoured the founders of the regional competition, Roman Lisac, Božo Milićević and Zmago Sagadin on the court, in the absence of their legitimately withheld collegues Josip Bilić and Radovan Lorbek and the late Danko Radić.
Before and during the game, the spectators also had a chance to relive the glorious moments of the first champions, by observing the photo gallery and video highlights from the very first final game of the ABA League between Union Olimpija and Krka on 24 March 2002 in the Fan Zone of the Stožice Arena.
