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Who was your club's MVP from the EuroLeague Women second hub?
28/01/2021
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Who was your club's MVP from the EuroLeague Women second hub?

MUNICH (Germany) - There were some outstanding performances during the second EuroLeague Women Regular Season hubs, with many players shining for their respective teams.

With each each club having already been given their collective assessment grade for their efforts for the most recent of the bubbles, it is now time to turn the spotlight on those individuals who made a splash. 

Group A - Salamanca, ESP

Katie Lou Samuelson enjoyed a hugely productive series of performances in Salamanca

Perfumerias Avenida AVEN 

Katie Lou Samuelson - SG/SF / 1.92m / 1997

Statistics: 22.3 PPG; 4.5 RPG; EFF 21.5 

It's been a super first season in the competition for Samuelson , who's living up to the hype. As Avenida again showed their teeth and Final Four potential, the versatile American was at the heart of their best work, showing her prolific scoring ability. She will certainly be at the top of the Spar Girona scouting report ahead of the Quarter-Finals.

Dynamo Kursk KURS

Arike Ogunbowale - G / 1.73m / 1997

Statistics: 14.0 PPG; 56% FG

Even if Ogunbowale was a little hit and miss in her consistency on Spanish soil, she dug Dynamo Kursk out of a major hole in the nail-biting win against Izmit. Shooting a stone cold 0-of-7 in that one, she came alive in crunch time to win the game with 13 quick fire points. The guard also amassed  23 points in the win against Nadezhda.

Nadezhda NAD 

Elizaveta Komarova - SG / 1.74m / 1995

Statistics: 8.7 PPG; 2.8 RPG

There was no big standout performer across the recent games for Nadezhda, but Komarova produced her best game of the season in an exciting win against Izmit. Along with the more experienced Anastasiia Shilova and Natalia Zhedik, the guard perhaps unexpectedly excelled in victory with a smart 16 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists.

Izmit Belediyespor IZM

Erica Wheeler - PG / 1.73m / 1991

Statistics: 19.0 PPG; 4.8 RPG; 4.4 APG; 19.3 EFF

The playmaker delivered nicely for Izmit, but without the support around her, the guard was left reflecting on four losses, which her individual performances didn't deserve. She balanced creativity and scoring ability nicely, worked hard defensively, but it will have been a bitter pill to swallow to have not emerged on the winning team even once.

Group B - Prague, CZE

The return to Fenerbahce Oznur Kablo of Alina Iagupova coincided with them making the Quarter-Finals

Fenerbahce Oznur Kablo FENE 

Alina Iagupova - SF / 1.86m / 1992

Statistics: 17.7 PPG; 8.3 RPG; 3.7 APG; 22.3 EFF

Having only recently returned to the club where she excelled last season, Iagupova did much to remind us why she was crowned the Regular Season MVP for 2019-20. Her super do-it-all approach, even on a loaded roster, means Fenerbahce Oznur Kablo have another serious momentum-shifter and game-winner in waiting back on board.

LDLC ASVEL Feminin LYON

Nayo Raincock-Ukunwe - F / 1.88m / 1991

Statistics: 7.0 PPG; 5.3 RPG

It proved quite difficult to select an MVP for Lyon, since this was another typical team effort, with contributions coming from right down the roster. Still, Raincock-Ekunwe did such solid job and strong at both ends of the floor,  she will be increasingly important as the French club search for a first ever place at the Final Four. 

ZVVZ USK Praha USK  

Teja Oblak - G / 1.72m / 1990

Statistics: 11.3 PPG; 5.3 RPG; 7.3 APG; 16.7 EFF

The Slovenian guard was one of a couple of positives from the wider context and disappointment of Praha missing out on the Quarter-Finals - a rarity in recent memory. Oblak handed out more than 7 assists per game which is quite a feat, while she also shot the ball reasonably well and did a nice job on the boards too.

VBW Arka Gdynia GDYN 

Alice Kunek - F / 1.87m / 1991

Statistics: 20.0 PPG; 4.0 RPG;  3.3 APG

The Australian was impressive again, just like during the first hub last December. Her scoring touch gave Gdynia a shot at upsetting LDLC ASVEL Feminin in a very tight encounter. Kunek also showed the full range of her skills by handing out more than 3 assist per game and working on the glass to help her team.

Group C - Schio, ITA

UMMC Ekaterinburg UMMC   

Emma Meesseman - F / 1.92m / 1993

Statistics: 14.0PPG; 58.0% FG; 18.0 EFF

While it was some distance from the brilliant best of Meesseman when leading Belgium,  this is what a stacked UMMC roster needs from her. Nicely efficient, consistent and always a threat, the forward stood out amongst many nice performances from her colleagues and you sensed she could turn up the dial quite a bit more - if needed.

Maria Araujo was the standout performer for Spar Girona as they passed to the post-season for the first time

Spar Girona GIRO 

Maria Araujo - F / 1.82m / 1997

Statistics: 14.7 PPG; 61% FG; 7.7 RPG; 19.0 EFF

If the qualification of Spar Girona to the Quarter-Finals for the first time in their history was the headline, the big sub-plot was the performances of Araujo. The Spanish forward was electric and earned Top Performer status for her big double-double against TTT. It wasn't only Girona fans happy with that, but also Spanish national team fans too.

Beretta Famila Schio SCHI  

Natalie Achonwa - C / 1.91m / 1992

Statistics: 17.3 PPG; 7.0 RPG;  25.0 EFF

She may well be remembered as the player who had the shot to send Beretta Famila Schio into the Quater-Finals, but what should define her 2020-21 season in this competition, rather than the miss,  is some truly stellar work. The Canadian was a colossus in that win against Girona and was generally dominant across the recent bubbles.

TTT Riga TTTR  

Megan Huff - F/ 1.90m / 1996

Statistics:  11.7 PPG; 6.0 RPG

With little for TTT Riga to celebrate and with strong performances generally absent, Huff was one of the few players to click into a high gear at times. The forward was the most consistent performer for her team across the games, doing a nice job on the glass and averaging a double-digit scoring return.

Group D - Bourges, FRA

Sopron Basket SOP 

Jelena Brooks - F / 1.90m / 1989

Statistics: 19.5 PPG; 64% FG; 5.5 RPG; 21.5 EFF

A huge favorite with the Sopron supporters, it was fitting that as the club sealed an unbeaten campaign, it was Brooks who shone most brightly. The veteran proved typically tough to slow down and she was behind the win against Basket Bourges, while also impressing in the victory against Bourges Landes

The recent arrival of Epiphanny Prince was instrumental in helping Galatasaray advance to the Quarter-Finals

Galatasaray  

Epiphanny Prince  - G / 1.75m / 1988

Statistics: 16.8 PPG; 50% FG; 3.5 REB; 3.0 APG / 2.3 SPG / 17.5 EFF

While most eyes will have been on her teammate Angel McCoughtry, the steady and veteran hand of the recently signed Prince was fundamental to Galatasaray turning their season around and making the Quarter-Finals. One look at the length of that stats line above and you appreciate what a huge influence she was in so many facets of the game.

Bourges Basket BOUR 

Isabelle Yacoubou - C / 1.90m / 1986

Statistics: 18.5 PPG; 71% FG; 6.5 RPG; 24.0 EFF

While she only featured in the first two games for her team, the experienced Yacoubou was immense. She was central to Bourges belatedly getting their first win as they took down Galatasaray, evoking memories from earlier in her career when she destroyed so many opposing defences.

Basket Landes BLAN 

Kendra Chery - SF / 1.85m / 2001

Statistics: 5.0 PPG; 3.8 RPG 

There was not much to choose from in what was a disastrous 0-4 record in Bourges for Landes. When more senior players were enduring a terrible time, rising star Chery at least was showing some signs of what could come in the future with a solid show. This kind of difficult experience will also be a valuable learning curve. 

FIBA