EuroLeague announces Final Four referees / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Ulf Duda/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images Credit Ulf Duda/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images

EuroLeague Basketball announced the names of the eight referees who will officiate the games of the 2022 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four in Belgrade, Serbia.

Ilija Belosevic, Mehdi Difallah, Tomislav Hordov, Damir Javor, Luigi Lamonica, Olegs Latisevs, Boris Ryzhyk and Gytis Vilius are the chosen referees for the signature event of the season, which takes place at Stark Arena from Thursday, May 19, to Saturday, May 21.

Together, they bring a tremendous experience to the games. Seven of them have previously officiated at the Final Four and two of them – Latisevs and Vilius – oversaw the 2021 EuroLeague Championship Game in Cologne, Germany. Difallah was also an official at last season's Final Four.

"This season has again been exceptional in many ways, but despite the challenges, our whole group of officials has shown dedication and commitment in completing the regular season and in delivering high-level work in the playoffs. We are grateful to the whole group for making every effort to reach the level that is expected by our fans and clubs," Richard Stokes, Euroleague Basketball's Senior Director of Officiating, said.

"I congratulate these eight officials for their selection to the Final Four in Belgrade. Being a Final Four official is a great achievement that comes with a responsibility to exceed the excellence shown throughout the season, both individually and as part of the wider group."

Ryzhyk and Belosevic are the most experienced of the group as they are in their 22nd and 21st seasons in the EuroLeague, respectively, and Lamonica is right behind them, in his 19th season.

This will be the 10th Final Four each for Lamonica, Latisevs and Ryzhyk. Lamonica's first Final Four came in 2002 in Bologna. Ryzhyk's Final Four debut came in Athens in 2007 and Latisevs's was in 2010 in Paris. Belosevic will appear at the Final Four for the ninth time. Difallah and Javor will each be at their third and Vilius at his second. Hordov will referee Final Four games for the first time.

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