By Wikipedia Maccabi Tel Aviv will enter Thursday’s Euroleague showdown with Barcelona after another comfortable BSL victory over Maccabi Haifa on Sunday night,…
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Euroleague Basketball, commonly known simply as the Euroleague, is the highest level and most important professional basketball competition in Europe, with teams from up to 18 different European countries. The competition is operated by ULEB, a Europe-wide consortium of leading professional basketball leagues. Clubs from Israel, entirely within Asia, are also part of the system. The league usually, but not always, includes domestic champions from the leading countries. Depending on the country, places in the Euroleague may be awarded on the basis of: Performance in the previous season's domestic league. Performance over the previous two or three domestic seasons. Contracts with ULEB. In addition, the winner of the previous season's Eurocup receives a place. For example, two 2007-08 domestic champions from ULEB member countries did not compete in the 2008-09 Euroleague—Zadar and Hapoel Holon. Zadar played in the second-level Eurocup in 2008-09. Hapoel Holon, however, did not compete in any of the three European continental club competitions—not even the third-tier EuroChallenge (which is run by FIBA Europe instead of ULEB). Starting with the 2009–10 season, the entrance criteria have changed: Thirteen clubs, chosen via a formula based on competitive performance, television revenues, and home attendance, receive "A Licences", giving them automatic entry into the Euroleague Regular Season phase. A Licences are awarded for three years, meaning that the next adjustment of A Licences will not take place until 2012–13. Eight clubs receive one-year "B Licences" into the Euroleague Regular Season. Seven of them are directly based on the ranking of the domestic league in which the club competes. The eighth is a three-year "wildcard" licence based on similar factors to the A Licences; the first such licence was awarded to ASVEL Basket of France. The winner of the previous year's Eurocup receives a one-year "C Licence" into the Euroleague Regular Season. If the club qualifies for a direct B Licence into the Regular Season via its domestic league, the C Licence will be awarded to the club not already qualified for the Regular Season that is highest on the Euroleague entry list. Eight other clubs receive one-year "B Licences" into the Euroleague qualifying rounds, with two advancing into the Regular Season. For more info see:Main article: ULEB League Rankings
