European Champions Cup (1957-1958)
The first season of organized by FIBA all-European cup ever
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European Champions' Cup 1957-1958
Real Madrid 86 withdrew after Quarterfinals as they were not allowed to travel to the Soviet Union
European Champions' Cup Final: Rigas ASK - Akademik Sofia 84-71 Akademik (coach: Bozhidar Takev): Mikhail Semov 4, Ljubomir Panov 9, Nikola Ilov 11, Georgi Panov 13, Viktor Radev 19; Dimitar Atanasov 6, Ivan Emanuilov 4, Konstantin Stoimenov 4, Ljuben Darvov 1, Petko Lazarov, Aleksandar Blagoev, Neicho Neichev dnp European Champions Cup Standings 1957-1958
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 Rigas ASK Champions European Champions' Cup
ASK Riga become the first European champions-Apr 27, 1958
Latvia's ASK Riga and Bulgaria's Akademik Sofia reached the final of the first European Cup. Given the huge interest in this game in both cities, the two matches in the final (first leg and second leg) were played outdoors in football stadiums with makeshift basketball courts set up on the pitch. In the first match of the final, played at Riga's Daugava Stadium in front of 17,000 spectators and with a wooden court installed on the day of the match (so neither team was able to train on it to adapt to the new surface and hoops), ASK seemed to get used to the outdoor conditions better than their rivals, and by the halfway point of the first half they had already taken a considerable lead (37-17). The giant Latvian pivot Jnis Krmis (2.20m) found little opposition from his defender Viktor Radev (1.96m), and the break came with a comfortable home advantage (52-36). In the second half, the Bulgarians managed to close the gap thanks to a pressing defence, even taking the lead in the 35th minute. However, ASK, encouraged by a boisterous crowd, took the initiative again in the final stretch of the game and took a five-point lead (86-81) to guarantee an exciting second leg in Sofia.
Courtesy of BasketFinals ASK Riga - Akademik Sofia 86-81 In the second leg, ASK Riga's final victory was never in any real danger. Krumins with his big wingspan conditioned the whole game and everything revolved around him. Riga, which already had a five-point lead, was always ahead by about six points. So the Akademik had less and less time to react (31-39). In the second half Riga always played with the match tempo, the Akademik was never able to find enough reaction to try to reach the end with some chance of a title fight. ASK Riga thus became the first European Cup champions. Akademik Sofia - ASK Riga 71-84 Akademik (coach: Bozhidar Takev): Mikhail Semov 4, Ljubomir Panov 9, Nikola Ilov 11, Georgi Panov 13, Viktor Radev 19; Dimitar Atanasov 6, Ivan Emanuilov 4, Konstantin Stoimenov 4, Ljuben Darvov 1, Petko Lazarov, Aleksandar Blagoev, Neicho Neichev dnp ASK Rigas (coach: Aleksandr Gomelskij): Valdis Muiznieks 17, Olgerts Hehts 6, Gundars Muiznieks 11, Leons Jankovskis 6, Janis Krumins (218-C-1930) 13; Maigonis Valdmanis 15, Alvils Gulbis 9, Teobalds Kalherts 4, Aivars Leonciks 3, Janis Davids, Ivars Veritis | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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