Sopron, A Hungarian Fountain of Youth

From: www.mizopecsbasketball.hu
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By Dominique Faurie

I loved this seventh day of EuroLeague Women action.

There was refreshing news with Krakow beating Spartak in Moscow (an arena that was supposed to be a fortress) while MiZo Pecs and Bourges resumed what has become an intense rivalry.

The two sides have become the best of enemies since facing each other in the quarter-finals in 2004 and 2005 (Pecs won on both occasions).

It was honours to Pecs again this week as the Hungarians beat Bourges 61-59 to end the French side's 100% record. Bourges' loss means that every team in the competition has now suffered at least one defeat after seven weeks of action.

While I am talking about Hungary I would like to mention Sopron. A small town of 60,000 inhabitants close to the Austrian border, Sopron is something of a women's basketball paradise where players and fans happily interact.

"Everyone knows us here," I was told by a smiling MKB Euroleasing Sopron team member recently.

MKB Euroleasing Sopron were beaten in last year's EuroLeague Women quarter-final play-offs by Valenciennes. This was after they had pulled off the upset of the competition in the eighth-finals to beat Russian side Ekaterinburg. And it was without 2003 EuroBasket Women MVP Lucie Blahuskova, who was sidelined early on in the season with a back injury.

In a city that boasts a rich past, the future of the basketball team is in the hands of some of the EuroLeague's youngest participants.

At just 33 years old, Norbert Székely is two years younger than his starting center Albena Branzova. Having served as Natalia Hejkova's assistant, he took over as head coach at the start of the season when Hejkova left for Spartak Moscow.

Székely impressed at the head of Hungary's U20 women's team which claimed a silver medal at the 2006 European Championship in Sopron, surely a factor in him getting the nod for the top job with MKB Euroleasing.

Youth is not just served among the coaching staff. Székely boasts one of European basketball's brightest young talents in his roster, 20-year old small forward Olexandra Gorbunova.

Gorbunova will be a free agent next year and the race will be on from Europe's top clubs to claim her signature. But right now, the native of Ukraine does not want to think about next season.

"I'm happy here," she says.

"I'll see what to do at the end of the season. I just want to play, recover after my knee surgery, enjoy the game. I want to be respected, not play one time 30 minutes, the other two. I don't think first about money. Here, young players play if the coach thinks they're good."

Already considered a star in Sopron, the 186 cm Gorbunova has yet to receive consistent playing time. She is averaging just 15 minutes per game, but packs in 8.7 points with an impressive 68 FG% from inside the arc and 50% from outside.

"I learned a lot last year. It was my first experience abroad," says Gorbunova

"The fans here are very enthusiastic. One day, they offered me a lot of flowers. When we beat Ekaterinburg, last season, I was so moved that I cried. Sometimes, you don't want to go to training. But you do it for the fans."

Nominated for the second successive year as a FIBA Europe Young Player of the Year candidate, Olexandra is eager to talk about the prize on offer. Beaten by Anete Jekabsone in 2006, she is keeping an eye on the competition.

"If I'm beaten, no problem, I'll congratulate them. But it's fun to see that there's no Russian player among the candidates. » Only one, in fact, Ekaterina Lisina from club rival MiZo Pecs.

While Gorbunova leads Sopron's youthful charge, 19-year old guard Katalin Honti has yet to make a similar name for herself. Possessing the smile of an angel, she also displays a killer instinct. She was one of the heroes of Hungary's 2006 U20 silver medal and could be one of European basketball's new young revelations in the near future.

"We should think on Final Four, otherwise we won't go there," says Honti confidently.

Let's hope it happens because it will be a great opportunity to discover Sopron's young talents.

Up

Krakow beat Moscow 65-78 in Vidnoje, confirming their victory in week six over Sopron. The Polish team is almost sure to qualify for the next stage.

Down

The French teams. Mondeville (-22), Valenciennes (-8), Bourges (-2) were all beaten. 2004 winners, USVO, could have a very difficult 8th final, if they qualify.

Quote

"To retain the services of one of the best four players in the world for two more years is a success for the club."

Carme Lluveras, Ros Casares general manager, after DeLisha Milton-Jones signed a new two-year contract with Valencia. The 2006 EuroLeague winner scored 25 points against Brno, her previous club.