Branislav Prelević

Infobox Euroleague Player
name = Branislav Prelević

---

position = Guard
league = Euroleague
height_ft = 6
height_in = 4.5
weight_lb = 220
nationality = Greek-Serbian
birth_date = Birth date and age|1966|12|19|mf=y
birth_place = Belgrade, FR Yugoslavia
college =
highschool =
draft =
draft_year =
draft_team =
career_start = 1986
career_end = 2000
former_teams = Red Star Belgrade (1986-88)
PAOK BC (1988-96)
Virtus Bologna (1996-97)
AEK BC (1997-99)
PAOK BC (1999-00)
awards = Italian Cup MVP 1997

Branislav Prelević or Bane Prelević (Greek: Μπράνισλαβ Πρέλεβιτς , born 19 December, 1966 in Belgrade, FR Yugoslavia) is a retired Greek-Serbian professional basketball player. Prelević was born to Serbian parents in Belgrade, SR Serbia, Yugoslavia. Prelević holds Serbian-Greek dual citizenship because of having Hellenic ancestry.

Career

PAOK BC

He started his career with Red Star Belgrade. In 1988, at age 21, he moved to Greece in order to be able to play for PAOK BC, where he spent eight seasons.

The then 21-year old Branislav Prelevic debuted in the 1988-89 season. He became the definitive leader and a fan favorite, often compared to the great Nick Galis, who was at the time the captain of Aris BC. Prelevic was often quoted for his loyalty to the team. He had a number of injuries and medical emergencies because of weak legs, but he would constantly choose to take heavy dosages of painkillers, rather than missing out on any important games.

Playing for PAOK BC, Branislav Prelević won the European Cup Winners' Cup when PAOK defeated CAI Zaragoza in Geneva 76-72 on March 26, 1991. [http://web.mit.edu/eavgoust/WWW/PAOK/PAOK_history/1990-1991.html]

The next season, Branislav Prelević was again the leader of PAOK BC and the team reached the European Cup Winners' Cup final again but lost to Real Madrid 63-65. [http://www.fibaeurope.com/cid_KNce8jInH7Qj1EsyH5rjn2.compID_GSf9wrCdHBkDZZk9UQoqE3.roundID_2542.season_1992.teamID_1003.playerID_2647.html] . In the same year PAOK won the Greek Championship, beating out Aris and Olympiacos.

Prelević participated in the 1992-93 European Champion's Cup for the first time and managed to reach the Athens Final Four. PAOK lost in the semi final game to Benetton Treviso, which was led by superstar Toni Kukoč, by a score of 77-79. [http://www.fibaeurope.com/default.asp?cid={5179A822-D4B1-4476-AD04-EDBC445D6DC6}&playerID=2647&teamID=1003&roundID=2564&compID={FDEF400B-42F1-4EC2-8D63-415FC773A917}&season=1993]

In 1994, Prelević and PAOK returned to European success by winning the Korać Cup two-leg final against Pallacanestro Trieste, winning both at home and away by 9 points. [http://www.fibaeurope.com/default.asp?cid={5179A822-D4B1-4476-AD04-EDBC445D6DC6}&playerID=2647&teamID=1003&roundID=2549&compID={5B6A5DA2-8C1B-462C-B971-E9EE89F1C6EC}&season=1994] The following year, PAOK won the Greek Cup in a 19 point victory against Panionios 72-53. In 1996 he was a European Cup Finalist. [http://www.fibaeurope.com/default.asp?cid={5179A822-D4B1-4476-AD04-EDBC445D6DC6}&playerID=2647&teamID=1003&roundID=2546&compID={41CA49EB-5327-44BB-8D8E-3B8979ACB43B}&season=1996]

Virtus Bologna

In 1996 he moved to Italy to play for Virtus Bologna. [http://www.fibaeurope.com/default.asp?cid={5179A822-D4B1-4476-AD04-EDBC445D6DC6}&playerID=2647&teamID=1315&roundID=2568&compID={FDEF400B-42F1-4EC2-8D63-415FC773A917}&season=1997]

AEK BC

In 1997 he returned to Greece and played for AEK Athens BC. Prelević reached the European Champions' Cup Final Four in Barcelona in 1998, and beat Benetton Treviso by a score of 67-66, before losing in the final to Virtus Bologna by a score of 44-58. [http://www.fibaeurope.com/default.asp?cid={5179A822-D4B1-4476-AD04-EDBC445D6DC6}&playerID=2647&teamID=1342&roundID=2569&compID={FDEF400B-42F1-4EC2-8D63-415FC773A917}&season=1998] In 1998 and 1999, Branislav Prelević was a Greek Cup finalist.

Return to PAOK

In 1999, Bane Prelevic returned to PAOK BC and he then quit basketball at the end of the season. [http://www.fibaeurope.com/default.asp?cid={5179A822-D4B1-4476-AD04-EDBC445D6DC6}&playerID=2647&teamID=1003&roundID=2571&compID={FDEF400B-42F1-4EC2-8D63-415FC773A917}&season=2000] He later returned to PAOK in the 2001-2002 season as an assistant coach.

Honors

PAOK Greece

* 1992 Greek Championship
* 1993 Greek Championship 2nd place
* 1994 Greek Championship 2nd place
* 1995 Greek Cup

PAOK Europe

* 1989-1990 Cup Winners' Cup Semifinal
* 1990-1991 European Cup Holder's Cup Winner
* 1991-1992 European Cup Holder's Cup Finalist
* 1992-1993 European Champion's Cup 3rd place
* 1993-1994 Korac Cup Winner
* 1995-1996 European Cup Finalist

AEK Europe

* 1997-1998 European Champion's Cup 2nd place

Personal info

He is married to Nevena Prelević-Marjanović (born 26/04/1967) and he has two children, named Anna and Tea.

External links

* [http://www.superbasket.gr/prelevic/ Personal blog]
* [http://www.fibaeurope.com/default.asp?cid={5179A822-D4B1-4476-AD04-EDBC445D6DC6}&playerID=2647&teamID=291&roundID=2304&compID={89EB60F8-7F8F-4FFB-9427-6103055F3511}&season=1983 fibaeurope.com]
* [http://www.basketpedya.com/Acc002InfJug.php?idjug=322&idioma=3 basketpedya.com]
* [http://www.basket-stats.info/players/playerfile/p/branislav-prelevic.htm basket-stats.info]
* [http://www.eurobasket.com/coach.asp?Cntry=GRE&CoachID=4679 eurobasket.com]