Frantic final day as last spots filled for the Play-Off Round 1

MUNICH (Germany) - Another EuroCup Women Regular Season is in the books and the last night of action saw the final passes to the Play-Off Round 1 stamped as dreams of advancing were both made and broken.  

With some teams managing to navigate into the top two of their respective groups, others had to check to see if they were one of the best third-placed finishers. That in itself proved to be compelling and was live tracked, here.

Key Storylines

- Last spots filled; joy and relief for likes of KP Brno, Antalya, Roche Vendee and BCF Elfic Fribourg;

- Shepard shines again for Venice with another astronomical performance efficiency valuation;

- Play-Off Round 1 spots taken on Wednesday for 7 clubs including Arka Gdynia, Sassari, Zabiny Brno

- Panathinaikos AC take Play-Off Round 1 place on Tuesday after winning in Istanbul.

Thursday, November 30

The last evening of Regular Season action saw some clubs celebrate taking the step to the next stage with a victory and others thankful to still make it despite defeat. 

That scenario was in evidence as KP TANY Brno overran Antalya BSB Torslar BC 101-63 in Group H with their opponents scraping through despite the defeat. Karolina Sotolova was excellent with 22 points and 10 assists - as was her teammate Katerina Galickova with 21 points and 9 assists. 

Similarly BCF Elfic Fribourg felt some relief as they slipped 79-73 at home to Roche Vendee Basket - undone by 23 points from Shaqwedia Wallace as the French visitors took a top two spot in Group L, with Fribourg settling for third.

Meanwhile, Jessica Shepard wrote another headline with unbeaten Umana Reyer Venice after a majestic performance efficiency valuation of 49, having amassed 37 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists in a 105-58 win against Bursa Uludag.

Wednesday, November 29

Seven more teams realized their ambition to progress beyond the Regular Season with VBW Arka Gdynia one of the first to celebrate with a vital victory.

Zabiny Brno turned heads most sharply with their 74-70 Group A road win in France at Flammes Carolo Basket - helped by a tremendous 25-13 second quarter, plus a team leading 17 points and 12 boards from Natalie Stoupalova. Despite the disappointment for the home team, they still move on as one of those best ranked third-placed clubs. 

BDS Dinamo Sassari progressed in the top two of Group K despite 30 points from Ivana Raca as they went down 83-72 at TARR KSC Szekszard, who also march on despite finishing third in the pool.

The same finish and subsequent safe passage were secured by Olympiacos SFP in Group F as they swept aside MBK Ruzomberok 68-46, while MB Zaglebie Sosnowiec beat Lointek Gernika Bizkaia 70-69 in a gripping Group D contest.

Tuesday, November 28

Some fantastic work throughout and especially down the stretch from Jazmine Jones handed Panathinaikos AC a precious and nail-biting 80-79 win at Besiktas as they booked their spot in the next phase of the competition.

 She scored six points in the last minute to seal the deal, while her teammate Jillian Alleyne contributed a brilliant 18 points and 13 rebounds, with playmaker Pinelopi Pavlopoulou adding 19 points. 

Highs

Efficiency: 49 - Jessica Shepard (Umana Reyer Venice)
Points: 37 – Jessica Shepard (Umana Reyer Venice)
Rebounds: 18 – Yueru Li (Besiktas); Weronika Telenga (InvestInTheWest Enea Gorzow)
Assists: 10 – Julie Vanloo (Galatasaray Cagdas Factoring); Marzena Marciniak (MB Zaglebie Sosnowiec); Karolina Sotolova (KP TANY Brno); Pauline Astier (Tango Bourges Basket)
Steals: 4 - Multiple Players
Blocks: 4 – Gintare Petronyte (Melikgazi Kayseri)

Tuesday, November 28

Group E: Besiktas 79-80 Panathinaikos AC

Wednesday, November 29

Group A: Cadi La Seu 70-61 Eleftheria Moschatou;  Flammes Carolo Basket 70-74 Zabiny Brno 
Group B: Spar Girona 73-45 Piestanske Cajky
Group C: Galatasaray Cagdas Factoring 102-66 Kibirkstis; Union Feminine Angers 95-61 CSM Constanta 
Group D: MB Zaglebie Sosnowiec 70-69 Lointek Gernika Bizkaia 
Group F: Olympiacos SFP 68-46 MBK Ruzomberok; TTT Riga 71-69 Melikgazi Kayseri 
Group I: Castors Braine 66-60 GDESSA-Barreiro ; London Lions 78-63 Rutronik Stars Keltern 
Group J: NKA Universitas Pecs 77-66 Ragusa Dubrovnik 
Group K: TARR KSC Szekszard 83-72 BDS Dinamo Sassari ; Movistar Estudiantes 101-80 Levhartice Chomutov 
Group L: VBW Arka Gdynia  69-53 Emlak Konut SK 

Thursday, November 30

Group B:  InvestInTheWest Enea Gorzow 83-92 T71 Diddeleng 
Group E: Kangoeroes Mechelen 88-72 Slavia Banska Bystrica 
Group G: Basket Namur Capitale 65-50 Caledonia Gladiators 
Group H: KP TANY Brno 101-63 Antalya BSB Toroslar; BBC Grengewald 42-97 Tango Bourges Basket 
Group J: Umana Reyer Venice 105-58 Bursa Uludag Basketbol 
Group L: BCF Elfic Fribourg 73-79 Roche Vendee Basket 

FIBA