2008–09 FIBA EuroChallenge explained
| Nextseason: | 2009–10 |
| FIBA EuroChallenge |
| Season: | 2008–09 |
| T Bg: | - 338928
|
| Champions: |  Virtus Bologna (1st title) |
| Runners Up: |  Cholet |
| Third Place: |  Triumph Lyubertsy |
| Fourth Place: |  Proteas EKA AEL |
| Teams: | 32 |
| Duration: | 25 November 2008 – 26 April 2009 |
| Final Four Mvp Link: | EuroChallenge Final Four MVP |
| Ppg: | 19.6 |
| Rpg: | 8.8 |
| Apg: | 6.2 |
The 2008–09 FIBA EuroChallenge was the sixth edition of Europe's third-tier level transnational men's professional club basketball FIBA EuroChallenge Tournament, and the first under the FIBA EuroChallenge name, organized by FIBA Europe. It was also the first season that eliminated teams from the ULEB Cup would transfer to a FIBA competition after the 2000 conflict between ULEB and FIBA. Additionally the formerly known ULEB Cup would be now renamed to EuroCup from 2008 and onwards.
A total number of 32 teams participated in the regular season and a total of 40 teams competed including the qualifying rounds. Virtus Bologna won its first EuroChallenge title after defeating Cholet in the Final of the Final Four, which was hosted in Bologna.
Format
In all there are 40 teams from 21 countries, plus sixteen teams from the 2008–09 Eurocup Basketball first preliminary round and second preliminary round. The competition is jointly run by FIBA Europe.
Teams
The labels in the parentheses show how each team qualified for the place of its starting round (TH: title holders;):
- 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc.: League position after eventual Playoffs
- EC: Transferred from Eurocup
QR: Losers from qualifying rounds
Qualifying rounds
Thirty-two teams will participate in the first round and sixteen in the second.
First qualifying round
See main article: 2008–09 FIBA EuroChallenge First qualifying round. |}
Second qualifying round
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Regular season
Group A
Group B
Group C
Group D
Group E
*Due to the war situation in Gaza Strip, Olympia refused to travel to Israel and Hapoel Jerusalim were declared winners by forfeit (20-0)
Group F
Group G
Group H
Top 16
Group I
Group J
Group K
Group L
Quarterfinals
Final Four
See main article: 2009 FIBA EuroChallenge Final Four. The Final Four will be the last stage of EuroChallenge 2008–09. The event will take place at the Futurshow Station, in Bologna.
See also
External links
Base Oostende (EC QR2) 
Cajasol (EC QR2)
Hapoel Migdal Jerusalim (EC QR2) 
Galatasaray (EC QR2)
Tartu Rock (EC QR1)
Kyiv (EC QR2)
Allianz Swans Gmunden (EC QR2)
Šiauliai (EC QR1) 
Energa Czarni Slupsk (EC QR1)
Široki (3rd)
Prostejov (3rd) 
AMAK SP (5th)
Energy Invest Rustavi (1st)
Körmend (2nd)