EuroCup Women Preview: Wednesday 7 December
NOVOSIBIRSK (EuroCup Women) – There are nine games to enjoy on Wednesday as 18 EuroCup Women clubs get ready to compete in the penultimate week of the Regular Season.
While five teams have already stamped their ticket for the next phase and others still without a win to their name have mostly seen their dreams ended, a fascinating scramble for the remaining tickets is brewing.
Heading into the season, TTT Riga had high hopes of progressing after assembling a talented-looking roster, but the pressure is now on after they were seriously dismantled by Galatasaray last week.
In a bid to restore some confidence, Aigars Nerips was quick to point out the quality of the group leaders, ahead of a crunch clash at Dynamo Novosibirsk in the first game of the day.
"The Galatasaray players just shown how good they can play, especially Moriah Jefferson and Yvonne Anderson," he stated.
"If you don't guard them one-on-one, it's difficult to execute the other sets of plays too.
Galatasaray book their spot in the Round of 16! #EuroCupWomen
— EuroCup Women (@EuroCupWomen) December 1, 2016
Group C: @TTTRiga 60-83 @GSBasketbol
📊 https://t.co/XYOA7cFdlu pic.twitter.com/dmWtWqMMSO
"They were simply faster and we lost due to transition defence and a very low shooting percentage."
It's given the play-caller food for thought as his team need to establish improvements on Russian soil, with TTT Riga 2-2 and the hosts under pressure with a 1-3 record.
Samsun will play Galatasaray in the other Group C game knowing that they will probably have to beat their domestic opponents to give their prospects a major boost heading into the final week. Meanwhile Galatasaray have opted to replace Anderson with Senegal star Astou Traore.
Another club desperately needing to dig out a win are Basket Landes who had been one of the pre-season favourites. But, after defeat at Nice last time out, they are now 1-3 and needing to make the most of home comforts – starting with a match-up against Group leaders Reyer Venezia.
"We only missed a victory at Nice by a small margin of three points," said Landes captain, Julie Barennes.
"Our team was reduced and we missed some key players - especially at the end of that game.
"Now we will do our best to recover and win these two games left that we have on our home floor," she added.
Mercredi, c'est #EuroCupWomen ! le @CNB_06 se déplacera à Fribourg pour tenter d'obtenir son billet pour la qualification ! #ISSANISSA pic.twitter.com/6JdLw2iiAM
— CNB06 • Niss'Angels (@CNB_06) December 5, 2016
In the same Group, a win for Nice at Elfic Fribourg could be enough to see them take a ticket in their first campaign in the competition.
Another French team with little margin for error are Nantes Reze after they lost at the high-flying Basketball Nymburk last week. They may have to ensure they beat Ragusa at home to stay in the hunt heading into the last week, while their Czech conquerors head to struggling Namur looking to continue their fine campaign and book their spot in the last 16.
Elsewhere, Bellona Agu have one foot in the next round already after moving to 4-0 and will be hoping to seal the deal with a victory at home to PEAC-Pecs.
Flammes Carolo Basket will be looking to enhance their perfect record at home to Lulea BBK in Group H, with the visitors still searching for their first success of the season.
Castors Braine could make a strong move towards the next stage if they can inflict a first loss on the already qualified Spar Citylift Girona.
FIBA
