On-the-rise Lulea dethrone Sodertalje Kings in Sweden
LULEA (Swedish Basketball League) - The reign of Sodertalje Kings, who reached the Second Round in the FIBA Europe Cup this season, has come to an end in Sweden, as coach Vedran Bosnic’s side were finally unseated from the Swedish Basketball League throne by Lulea.
Having won four straight national championships under the guidance of coach Bosnic, the Kings were outdone by a superior Lulea side, who secured a 4-1 victory in the Finals this year after scoring an 89-65 victory against the visitors from Sodertalje on Wednesday evening.
It was the first championship title in the past decade and eighth overall for Lulea, who were the winners of the Regular Season, but didn't need to put their home court advantage to use, going up 3-0 in the series before the Kings managed to get a win.
After losses in the first three games, Sodertalje got on the board with a 96-90 victory at the Taljehallen in Game 4, but that was as far as coach Bosnic and the Kings came to escaping the tough situation.
It was all about Brandon Rozzell's play in the title-clinching fixture back in Lulea the following game, with the 28-year-old guard collecting a game-high 27 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists en route to a triumphant end of the season, complemented by MVP honors.
"I don't know what to say, Lulea just played really well," Nichoas Spires, who led Sodertalje with 20 points in the final game, told NSD.se after the final buzzer.
Lulea head coach Peter Oqvist had already won domestic titles with Sundsvall Dragons in 2009 and 2011, but had been on a mission to reach the top with his hometown club ever since coming back to Lulea and taking charge of the team in 2014.
Grattis BC Luleå! Så jäkla bra! #luleåvinner #norrbottenvinner pic.twitter.com/7f1v5c5PnE
— Luleå Basket (@LuleaBasket) May 10, 2017
"I am so happy for everyone in this hall. This is what we've been longing for. It feels so magical to do it at home," Oqvist said, somewhat lost for words after returning the league trophy to the basketball-loving Lulea.
The triumph against Sodertalje Kings completed an historic season for the city's basketball, with the women's team Lulea Basket also bringing the Swedish title up north.
FIBA
