The first of four qualifying series started on Monday. Cukurova was hosting in Turkey as they had to deal with plenty of late unexpected roster news as they were trying to make the big jump from the second division to EuroLeague in two years. Nadezhda’s experience at this level showed early as they took a big lead, but the hosts rallied late to pull within 60-58 thanks to the player that they have entrusted the ball with for two seasons, Alina Iagupova, which leaves the series poised delicately ahead of Thursday’s game in Orenburg. Two more series started on Tuesday with both schedule to finish on Friday. The two game format can lead to some unusual results, none more so than what happened in Greece as the teams finished tied at 63, eliminating any need for complex calculations in the next game. Olympiacos handed Pinelopi Pavlopoulou her professional debut, but will feel like they have a tough task to break into Europe’s elite when they go to Poland, where Wisla will be looking to draw on their vast experience at this level. TTT, the overwhelming leader in titles in this competition is trying to qualify again and they beat Anete Steinberga and Reyer 67-56 in Latvia for a solid start before the next game in Italy. On Wednesday, an intriguing game in Hungary saw Villeneuve show their experience early only to see Szekszard control the middle quarters before the French side pulled closer late to lose 71-68, which puts them in a reasonable position for the next game in week.
October 8, 2018
Cukurova vs. Nadezhda Orenburg 58-60 CUKU Iagupova 21 Ndour 10 Mestdagh 6 Ervin 3 Ozelci 0 NAD Jones 13/11r Bulgak 13 Ygueravide 10
October 9, 2018
Olympiacos vs. Wisla Krakow 63-63 OLY Sotiriou 12 Pavlopoulou 12 Johnson 10/8r Thomas 10 Mazic 5/6r WISL Conde 14 Rodriguez 14 Russell 12/9r Canada 10/10a Oroszova 6
TTT Riga vs. Reyer Venezia 67-56 TTTR Peddy 19 Krastina 12/6a Vitola 9/9r Basko 8 Slaughter 7 Kreslina 0 Eglite 0 VENE Steinberga 21/10r Anderson 10/9r Gulich 3 Goree 2
October 10, 2018
Szekszard vs. Villeneuve 71-68 SZEK Jovanovic 14 Studer 13 Gereben 10 McCall 10 Eldebrink 10 Bishop 3 ESBV Mendy 15/7a Bremont 14/6a Evans 12/7r Bjorklund 5
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