Vesela hoping home comfort can propel Prague

PRAGUE (EuroLeague Women) - Jana Vesela already knows what it feels like to win a EuroLeague Women title, but nothing would compare to landing another on home soil.

The veteran forward remains an essential cog in the ZVVZ USK Prague wheel and is hoping that host club can deliver a surprise at Final Four.

The Czech champions have been pitched against Fenerbahce and will step out in their Semi-Final contest in front of a raucous home crowd, with the event now looking like a sell-out.

"Playing at home is a plus for us and for me it is special," said Vesela ahead of the tournament at Sportovni Hala Kralovka - a familiar venue for the 31-year-old.

"I grew up in this Arena and played here a couple of years with Sparta.

"Although it now looks a little different, it's still super special for me.

"It is also true that the girls themselves have probably bought most of the tickets," she added.

"They made fun of me by suggesting I had bought the entire hall, but that's not true - although a few people will come and many friends have asked me for tickets."

The memories of her success with Ros Casares in 2012 have come flooding back for Vesela.

Now she would dearly love to recapture that same exhilarating feeling of being crowned a EuroLeague Women champion.

She is also adamant that she won't have to offer the benefit of her experience to any of her team-mates - even if they will be without the recently retired Czech legend Eva Viteckova.

"For anyone who plays basketball at this level, it is the very top and this is why we play EuroLeague Women games," explained Vesela.

"It's a feeling that you want to experience.

"We have enough of an experienced squad, even if for some of the Czech girls it will be a first Final Four.

"Last year we played Final Eight, but it's not the same thing, even if it's pretty similar.

"I don't think any advice from me will be needed."

If Vesela does take Prague to more history by landing a spot in Sunday's title game, it will be against either UMMC Ekaterinburg or Dynamo Kursk who will meet in the first Semi-Final on Friday.

However, UMMC will be without multi EuroLeague Women champion and USA national team leader Diana Taurasi, who has just undergone surgery in California on a broken hand.

FIBA