29/10/2018
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Power Rankings: Castors Braine continue Belgian buzz, Carolo climb high, Polkowice plummet
MUNICH (EuroLeague Women) - The dust has settled on last week's EuroLeague Women openers and so we're ready with our second Power Rankings of the season.
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UMMC Ekaterinburg - It was a week one statement of intent that UMMC are ready to justify their potential as potentially the best Ekaterinburg roster of all-time. They destroyed ESBVA-LM, had half the team in double digits which will have pleased Coach Mendez (who continues to do a great job by the way). Poor CCC Polkowice are next up for the slaughter? |
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Hatay - Our pre-season confidence was well-placed and having won that Presidential Cup, Hatay are flying. With Glory Johnson and Courtney Paris in tandem, that is one seriously tough nut to crack. They were sensational against Avenida and behind the headline of their eye-popping numbers, don't overlook that six players got into double digits. Very impressive and another home game up next! |
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Dynamo Kursk - Yes, they won, but also had to dodge a bullet. The game was not in their hands in the last seconds and one basket from Riga on that final possession and it would have been a first-night loss for Coach Mondelo and his team. Obviously the sensational debut of Stewart was a big plus, but they looked under-cooked on chemistry which is not a surprise right now. They looked a player short in this game as well, so at least they have found a replacement for Candace Parker in the shape of Tina Charles. They are home to Carolo Basket this week who'll be ready and feel they have nothing to lose. |
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Bourges Basket - We hear you Marine Johannes! We called you ordinary in Tenerife and upset a few of your fans last week. But rather than proving us wrong, you so beautifully proved us right as we said you would be back on-song and what a highlights package you produced. That is the high standard we were talking about. Credit to the supporting cast too. That massive win at CCC Polkowice was awesome. Next up, Nadezhda at home and a chance of 2-0. Just need to make sure they don't get sucker-punched by complacency after that super start. |
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Carolo Basket - A beautiful slice of history on their debut in the competition as they not only claimed a maiden win, but did it in style by beating last year's Finalists, Sopron. It was a famous night for the club who have battled for so long in EuroCup Women. It was great to see Queralt Casas flying on her return to EuroLeague Women and we are expecting big things from Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis! This week they have Dynamo Kursk away - one of the most difficult road games possible. But riding high, at least they know they can win in this new level of competition for them. |
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ZVVZ USK Prague - It was a trademark performance by Prague under Coach Hejkova as they let their scoring do the talking at Nadezhda. The debut of WNBA star Alyssa Thomas was special with her monstrous double-double, while other new recruits like Valeriane Ayayi and Teja Oblak seem to have fitted in nicely. This week's matchup could be the most interesting of the week as Prague look to heap pressure on Schio by making it back-to-back road wins. |
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Castors Braine - The bounce that the national team put into Belgian women's basketball was terrific in Tenerife at the #FIBAWWC. Last week Castors Braine continued the momentum and buzz around the sport with that opening day's win against Schio. We said to look out for Brit Karlie Samuelson and she played a nice role in the victory. Now Braine must be looking forward to beating ESBVA-LM at home in the cross-border derby. |
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Fenerbahce - Yes, we know, they won. However, it was far from convincing for a team looking to get back to the Final Four and challenge for silverware. We have already stated that the team looks like needing time to gel and that was evident. Outside of Kelsey Plum and her smart 20 points, there was not much to cheer as they slipped past rookies Olympiacos who have arguably the least deep roster in the competition. Pabellon Wurzburg is one of the most demanding places to get a win and Avenida are up next, so will Fenerbahce fail or shoot up the rankings with a W? Fenerbahce do have some added confidence from a big domestic derby win against Galatasaray and Avenida will be fearing a possible 0-2 start. |
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TTT Riga - Yes, we accept they lost. However, what a great performance to stand toe-to-toe with a team like Dynamo Kursk. Everyone watching the games was shouting "Shoot the ball, shoot the ball" at the end as nobody took responsibility to deliver a killer blow in the last moments. They could, and probably should have won - so Coach Zibarts will have had mixed emotions against his former employers. It was impressive and a continuation of their good form from the Qualifiers. A tough test in Hatay now lies in wait. |
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Sopron Basket - It's never ideal to start any season with a loss and especially after the fairytale high of making the 2018 Final on home soil. Coach Iniguez was smart after the loss at Carolo by pushing the pressure release valve and taking the blame himself (whatever his true thoughts). A lack of focus was the blame, but the most critical point is that it is a long season and expect Sopron to be back quickly. They have a chance to get off the mark at home to Olympiacos this week. |
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Perfumerias Avenida - It depends whether you view the glass as half empty or half full. They did come back against Hatay to reduce the damage which is a positive, but how much had the home side eased off mentally and physically? Antakya is a hard place to go and win, but trailing by 17 with all that preparation in your opening game is very disappointing. Nice show by veteran playmaker Silvia Dominguez by the way and what a game it is going to be against Fenerbahce. |
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ESBVA-LM - Can you read much into the fact that ESBVA-LM were mauled, obliterated, swamped, outclassed (do we need to continue)? Our tongue is in our cheek of course, since UMMC might be doing this to a few teams during the Regular Season - therefore one crumb of comfort for Villeneuve. It's a derby game next as they hop over the border to Castors Braine in a repeat of a EuroCup Women Final from a few years ago. This one is always an interesting battle! |
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Famila Schio - It was a close game at Castors Braine, so only a slight fall for Schio as they could have squeezed out the win. But they were sunk by some miserable outside shooting and went 3-of-18. That will need an uplift and it really will be a rugged defense against a more run and gun team, Prague this week in a clash of styles. An interesting match-up for sure. |
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CCC Polkowice - Did we say 'Feel Good Factor' last week? Oh dear. That party balloon got popped in a big way with that bruising home loss to Bourges who gave CCC Polkowice a bloody nose with a massive win. Maybe it was just a false start by the Polish side who never got going at all. There is always this week’s second game. Oh, it’s UMMC Ekaterinburg on the road. Third time lucky anyone? |
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Nadezhda - They didn't play badly and with a bit more luck, could have pipped ZVVZ USK Prague who had Alyssa Thomas on fire. The downside is that to make the post season and be competitive, Nadezhda have to win in Orenburg. Especially games like this. The really bright spot was Brionna Jones who was super and next up they have a tough one at Bourges. Maybe a frontcourt edge gives them some confidence. |
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Olympiacos - It's no change for Olympiacos who didn't get the famous debut win they craved as they were edged out by Fenerbahce. They can be very proud of the way they played against a team with one of the best ever EuroLeague Women traditions and some world class stars. Next up is Sopron who will be fuming from their Day 1 loss and gunning for the Greek club. |
*The power rankings are entirely subjective and in no way a true, accurate ranking system. All comments are purely those of the author(s).
FIBA
