EUROLEAGUE WOMEN – A stroll down memory lane at Bourges for Spain’s Palau

BOURGES (EuroLeague Women) – Spain international Laia Palau knows better than any of her Ros Casares teammates what Friday night’s EuroLeague Women play-off showdown is going to be like in Bourges.

Palau, 31, spent a couple of seasons at the club and understands what the passion for basketball is like there.

Bourges have won four European titles dating back to the 1995 Ronchetti Cup.

"Bourges is a city that lives of and for this basketball team (Bourges),” she said.

“Their arena is always full with more than 3,000 fans that don't stop cheering.

“Few teams have managed to win there.”

Bourges beat Ros Casares in France earlier this season in the qualifying round, 58-55.

Ros Casares have the upper hand in the quarter-final play-off tie, though, after winning Game 1 on Tuesday night in Valencia.

Palau, who missed the last two eighth-finals play-off games against MKB Euroleasing Sopron because of injury, had five assists and four rebounds to go with her four points in this week’s game, a 65-58 Ros Casares triumph.

Other EuroLeague Women Quarter-Final Game 2s will be played.

Four-time defending champions Sparta&K M.R. Vidnoje have a 1-0 lead against Fenerbahce and host that Game 2 in Russia.

Wisla Can-Pack Krakow trailed 1-0 against Halcon Avenida and are at home for that Game 2, while UMMC Ekaterinburg have a 1-0 lead over Cras Basket Taranto and will try to pull off a 2-0 sweep in Italy.

FIBA