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EuroLeague and EuroCup 2017-18 Group Draws

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July 4, 2017

After the announcement of the teams last week, the draws were conducted for the upcoming seasons of both EuroLeague and EuroCup.

EuroLeague:

The strength of this season’s competition has been shown by this draw.  Group B should present a large number of big clashes, especially if Lattes Montpellier wins their qualifier, creating a situation where all eight teams will enter the season expecting a top four finish.  The highlight of the draw should be the two games that will be a rematch of the Turkish league finals between EuroLeague finalists Fenerbahce and EuroCup champions Yakin Dogu University.  Fenerbahce will also have to face UMMC Ekaterinburg twice in a rematch of a gripping semifinal encounter.  Besides the two Turkish and two Russian teams, Group B seems likely to include the powerhouses from Poland, France, Italy, and Spain.  Defending champions Dynamo Kursk has a slightly easier draw in Group A, but the rest of the teams will be emboldened to think that they could advance far in the competition.  Two French teams were drawn into this group with Villeneuve and Bourges likely to provide entertainment in their two clashes.  USK Prague is set up to have another good season here and could be set up for a Final Four run.  Castors Braine and Galatasaray are returning to the competition and could not ask for a better chance to make some noise.  Sopron and the qualifier winner will also believe that they can find wins against the other teams.  The competition should start in entertaining fashion when it kicks off in October.

A: Castors Braine (Belgium), USK Prague (Czech Republic), Winner Piestanke Cajky (Slovakia)-Polkowice (Poland), Sopron (Hungary), Galatasaray (Turkey), Villeneuve (France), Bourges (France), Dynamo Kursk (Russia)
B: Wisla (Poland), Fenerbahce (Turkey), Winner Atomeromu (Hungary)-Lattes Montpellier (France), Yakin Dogu University (Turkey), Schio (Italy), Avenida (Spain), Nadezhda Orenburg (Russia), UMMC Ekaterinburg (Russia)

EuroCup:

The field will be complete after the results of four qualifiers, but this tournament is set up to be very competitive once again.  With an increase to five groups in both the east and west, it would have been have been better if the draw could have been arranged to keep teams from the same countries apart, but it has still set up some games that should be watched.  The Group E games between the two Turkish university teams and the clashes in Spain between Gernika and Girona should be good rivalry games.

A: Olympiacos (Greece), TTT Riga (Latvia), Besiktas (Turkey), Gorzow (Poland)
B: Enisey Krasnoyarsk (Russia), Mersin (Turkey), Good Angels Kosice (Slovakia), MBK Ruzomberok (Slovakia)
C: MBA Moscow (Russia), Umea (Sweden), Spartak Moscow (Russia), Bydgoszcz (Poland)
D: Torun (Poland), Hatay (Turkey), Loser Piestanke Cajky (Slovakia)-Polkowice (Poland), Sepsi (Romania)
E: Sleza Wroclaw (Poland), Istanbul University (Turkey), Abdullah Gul University (Turkey), Winner Gdynia (Poland)-Spartak Noginsk (Russia)
F: DVTK (Hungary), Keltern (Germany), Pecs (Hungary), Charleville (France)
G: Landes (France), Gernika (Spain), Girona (Spain), Cegled (Hungary)
H: Loser Atomeromu (Hungary)-Lattes Montpellier (France), GDES Santo Andre (Portugal), Nymburk (Czech Republic), Virtus Ragusa (Italy)
I: Reyer Venezia (Italy), KP Brno (Czech Republic), Wasserburg (Germany), Elfic Fribourg (Switzerland)
J: Nantes (France), Winner Hainaut (France)-Amsterdam Angels), Gyor (Hungary), Namur (Belgium)

EuroLeague and EuroCup 2017-18 Teams Announced (Details Inside)

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June 27, 2017

FIBA announced the participants for EuroLeague and EuroCup for the upcoming season on Tuesday.  As was the case last season, there were more applicants than available spots, meaning that qualifying games will be scheduled.  Teams will find out the groups for each competition next week when the draw is conducted.

EuroLeague:

18 teams applied for the 16 EuroLeague places.  The teams that will definitely be in the competition include the usual trio of Russian teams, defending champions Dynamo Kursk as well as UMMC Ekaterinburg and Nadezhda Orenburg.  Galatasaray’s strong regular season in Turkey gave them the chance to earn back their spot, joining Fenerbahce and domestic and EuroCup winners Yakin Dogu University.  The extra teams mean that only Villeneuve and Bourges qualify directly from France.  6 countries earned an automatic spot with some traditional powers returning as Avenida represents Spain, Schio represents Italy, Sopron represents Hungary, Wisla represents Poland, and ZVVZ USK Prague represents the Czech Republic.  Castors Braine returns to represent Belgium.

The remaining 2 spots have already had their qualifying format determined.  Lattes Montpellier of France will look to increase French representation, but they will have an interesting series against an Atomeromu team that impressed in Hungary.  Polkowice also looks to return, but the Polish team will have to navigate past a real upstart as Piestanske Cajky is the surprise new entry from Slovakia.  Qualifiers will be played in a home and home format with the team mentioned first hosting the second game.  The losing teams will drop down to EuroCup for their regular season.  In the past, some qualifiers have been cancelled due to teams pulling out, so it will remain to be seen whether these high stakes games will be played. [Read more…]

EuroCup Finals Game 2 April 12th

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Yakin Dogu University celebrate their 2017 EuroCup Championship

April 12, 2017

The two finalists met for the third game in a row as it was another battle of university-sponsored teams.  Abdullah Gul University had some momentum from the weekend game and used it early, overturning the deficit from Kayseri.  The hosts were in poor shape heading into the final period, but surged to bring the aggregate back to even before taking the outright lead and winning 63-58, which was enough for a 136-127 overall win.  Both teams also figure to be position to challenge for another trophy when the Turkish league continues.

Yakin Dogu Universitesi vs. Bellona AGU 63-58 YDUB Hollingsworth 16/10r Leuchanka 13/9r Carson 9 McBride 8 Vandersloot 6/8a Robinson 6 Cakir 3 KAYS Gray 16/6a Sanders 12/8r Wright 12 Dubljevic 10/6r Wauters 8/8r Mazic 0

Yakin Dogu Universitesi wins series 136-127

EuroCup Finals Game 1 April 5th

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April 5, 2017

The first game of the final series between the Turkish university-sponsored teams took place on Wednesday.  Yakin Dogu University did not see their momentum slowed early, taking the lead in Kayseri before Abdullah Gul University cut into the deficit before halftime.  The visitors stretched the lead back out in the third quarter before finishing with a 73-69 win as Courtney Vandersloot and Chelsea Gray had a terrific point guard battle.  The teams are scheduled to meet again in domestic league play on Saturday before switching venues for the second half of this series on Wednesday.

Bellona AGU vs. Yakin Dogu Universitesi 69-73 KAYS Gray 21 Mazic 17 Wauters 10 Dubljevic 7 Sanders 2/8r Wright 2 YDUB Vandersloot 25 McBride 19 Robinson 8/9r Hollingsworth 7 Carson 5 Leuchanka 0 Cakir 0

EuroCup Semifinals Game 2 March 24th

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March 24, 2017

Both homes teams brought back 6 point leads for Friday’s games.  Courtney Paris and Hatay flipped that deficit around quickly, but Abdullah Gul University turned it around in the second half to win 64-58 outright and advance 135-123 on aggregate.  It was a different story for Yakin Dogu University, which built on its lead quickly thanks to Kayla McBride, winning 81-68 at pushing the aggregate to 168-149.  Astou Traore provided Moriah Jefferson with some help, but it was not enough for Galatasaray.  The finals are set for April 5th and 12th with the first game set for Kayseri and the second for Istanbul.

Bellona AGU vs. Hatay 64-58 KAYS Wright 19 Dubljevic 16/6r Wauters 11/6r Gray 7 Sanders 6/7r HATA Paris 20/16r Snytsina 17 Turner 9 Stankovic 0

Bellona AGU advances 135-123

Yakin Dogu Universitesi vs. Galatasaray 81-68 YDUB McBride 24/6r Carson 15 Vandersloot 14/12a Hollingsworth 10/7r Caglar 10 Cakir 2 Leuchanka 2 Robinson 0 GALA Traore 21/6r Jefferson 20/6a Vitola 8 Da Silva 3 Paris 0

Yakin Dogu Universitesi advances 168-149

EuroCup Semifinals Game 1 March 21st

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March 21, 2017

Both series started on Tuesday as the all-Turkish affair began.  Abdullah Gul University used a strong final quarter to win 71-65 at Hatay and give themselves and advantage for the home game.  Moriah Jefferson and Kayla McBride may soon be playing on the same team, but they were on opposite sides of a terrific battle with Quanitra Hollingsworth also helping push Yakin Dogu University to the 87-81 win despite Jefferson’s latest heroics for Galatasaray.  That leaves both university-sponsored teams with narrow leads, but both will host the next game on Friday.

Hatay vs. Bellona AGU 65-71 HATA Paris 18/11r Snytsina 13/7r Hurst 13 Stankovic 8 Turner 5 Tanacan 0 KAYS Dubljevic 13/6r/6a Wauters 12/7r Gray 12 Gunay 11 Sanders 9 Wright 8 Mazic 0

Galatasaray vs. Yakin Dogu Universitesi 81-87 GAL Jefferson 31/9a Papova 15 Vitola 13/6r Da Silva 5 Paris 0 YDU Hollingsworth 26 McBride 26 Vandersloot 11/15r Carson 6 Robinson 4 Cakir 2 Leuchanka 2

EuroCup Quarterfinals Game 2 March 10th

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March 10, 2017

All four series finished on Friday in Turkey.  Galatasaray was the least likely host team to advance after results on Tuesday, but quickly got to work on the deficit.  Moriah Jefferson and Astou Traore helped them get the 82-66 win, which was enough to beat Good Angels Kosice 144-139 overall.  Wisla looked to spoil Hatay’s day by taking an early lead, but the hosts took care of business in the second half behind Barbara Turner to win 77-76, advancing by a 146-133 margin.  Abdullah Gul University had the biggest lead after the first game and they built on that at home before coasting to a 73-68 win with Saziye Ivegin leading the way for a comfortable 158-133 margin against Lattes Montpellier.  Courtney Vandersloot helped Yakin Dogu University widen the margin after a close first game, beating Villeneuve 73-61 to stretch the final tally to 141-128.

Galatasaray vs. Good Angels Kosice 82-66 GALA Jefferson 25 Traore 21 Papova 12 Vitola 9/7r Paris 5 Da Silva 2 KOSC Jurcenkova 15 Baugh 12/7r Zirkova 12 Oblak 10 Allen 8

Galatasaray advances 144-139

Hatay vs. Wisla Can-Pack 77-76 HATA Turner 20/6a Paris 17/11r Hurst 17/7r/7a Snytsina 15 Stankovic 0 Tanacan 0 WIS Morrison 18 Ygueravide 17/7a Ben Abdelkader 16/7a Gidden 11/6r Kobryn 11

Hatay advances 146-133

Bellona AGU vs. BLMA 73-68 KAYS Ivegin 20 Mazic 12/9r Gray 8 Dubljevic 6 Wright 4 Wauters 2 Sanders 2 BLMA Mann 15 Michel 14 Robert 14 Halman 11

Bellona AGU advances 158-133

Yakin Dogu Universitesi vs. ESBVA-LM 73-61 YDUB Vandersloot 21/12a McBride 14 Hollingsworth 13/8r Robinson 10/8r Carson 1 Leuchanka 0 Cakir 0 ESBV Iagupova 18 Sy 15/6r Amant 10 Ayayi 5/6r

Yakin Dogu Universitesi advances 141-128

The semifinals will be played on March 21st and 24th with the team listed first hosting the first game:
Hatay vs. Bellona AGU
Galatasaray vs. Yakin Dogu Universitesi

EuroCup Quarterfinals Game 1 March 7th

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March 7, 2017

Each series started on Tuesday.  As soon as the draw was made, everyone began to speculate about the possibility of all the Turkish teams advancing.  That suddenly looked less likely after the first game in Slovakia, where Good Angels Kosice beat Galatasaray 73-62, leaving the visitors with some work to do in the second leg on Friday.  Courtney Paris and Hatay did their job in Krakow, beating Wisla 69-57.  Yakin Dogu University had a tough time winning in Villeneuve, coming back to take a 68-67 lead home with them as they continue to build momentum.  The most secure team heading into the four games in Turkey is Abdullah Gul University, which beat Lattes Montpellier 85-65.

Good Angels Kosice vs. Galatasaray 73-62 KOSC Oblak 19 Baugh 18/13r Jurcenkova 10 Zirkova 7 Allen 5 GALA Alben 14 Jefferson 10 Da Silva 8 Paris 6 Vitola 4/6r

Wisla Can-Pack vs. Hatay 57-69 WIS Ben Abdelkader 14/8r Kobryn 11/8r Gidden 11/6r Morrison 10 HATA Paris 21/13r Hurst 18 Snytsina 15/6r Turner 6/11r/8a Stankovic 2 Tanacan 0

ESBVA-LM vs. Yakin Dogu Universitesi 67-68 ESBV Ayayi 17 Iagupova 17 Bremont 15 YDUB McBride 18/12r Vandersloot 17/10a Hollingsworth 16 Leuchanka 6/10r Carson 4 Robinson 4

BLMA vs. Bellona AGU 65-85 BLMA Lardy 15 Halman 12 Michel 11/6a Mann 9 KAYS Wauters 18/8r Dubljevic 18/7r Sanders 12 Mazic 10/8r Wright 10/8a Gray 7

EuroCup Round of 8 Game 2 February 15th-16th

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The Round of 8 series concluded this week.  On Wednesday, Abdullah Gul University quickly worked on overturning the deficit built up in Spain as Chelsea Gray helped them get the 85-54 win in Turkey to progress 148-125 overall.  On Thursday, Yakin Dogu quickly reversed the deficit from the game in Italy to win 66-45 in Turkey, advancing past Venezia 122-110 behind Kayla McBride and Courtney Vandersloot.  Galatasaray only needed to defend their lead in Turkey after a solid win in Italy and they did so with Moriah Jefferson leading the way in 68-66 win outright, pushing the margin to 145-133.  In Hungary, Cegled made progress early on cutting into the deficit built up in Slovakia, but Teja Oblak and the visitors got the 77-70 win, advancing past Nora Nagy-Bujdoso and the hosts 156-134.

February 15, 2017

Bellona AGU vs. Spar Citylift Girona 85-54 KAYS Gray 23/7a Wauters 15/11r Gunay 12 Sanders 10/6r Dubljevic 9 Wright 6/9a Mazic 5 GIRO Alminaite 12/8r Ibekwe 9/7r Spanou 8/6r Rodriguez 8 Peters 3

Bellona AGU advances 148-125

February 16, 2017

Yakin Dogu Universitesi vs. Reyer Venezia 66-45 YDUB McBride 21/6r Vandersloot 21/6a Hollingsworth 9/9r Carson 5 Robinson 0 Cakir 0 REYE Ruzickova 12/7r Walker 12/6r Fontenette 2

Yakin Dogu Universitesi advances 122-110

Galatasaray vs. Virtus Eirene Ragusa 68-66 GALA Jefferson 24/6a Alben 14/6a Traore 12/6r Vitola 5/10r Da Silva 2 Paris 0 VIRT Larkins 19/18r Ndour 17 Nicholls 14

Galatasaray advances 145-133

VBW CEKK Cegled vs. Good Angels Kosice 70-77 CEGL Nagy-Bujdoso 25/7r Skoric 18 Serban 10 KOSC Oblak 22/6a Jurcenkova 14/6r Kupcikova 11/8r Allen 11 Baugh 11 Zirkova 0

Good Angels Kosice advances 156-134

EuroCup Round of 8 Game 1 February 8th-9th

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After a week off, play resumed with the first game of each Round for all 8 series.  On Wednesday, Ify Ibekwe and Girona beat Ann Wauters and Abdullah Gul University 71-63 at home to take an advantage with them when the series moves to Turkey next week.  The home team also took the early advantage in Italy as Ashley Walker and Venezia beat Yakin Dogu University 65-56.  The other two series started on Thursday.  Good Angels Kosice dominated the second half in Slovakia, building a solid 79-64 lead for when they visit Cegled in Hungary next week.  Galatasaray will have the edge when they return to Turkey after going to Italy and beating Ragusa 77-67 with several additions to their roster.

February 8, 2017

Spar Citylift Girona vs. Bellona AGU 71-63 GIRO Ibekwe 21/9r Alminaite 15/11r Peters 13 Rodriguez 12 Spanou 7 KAYS Wauters 20/13r Wright 14 Dubljevic 12/6r Gray 6 Mazic 6 Sanders 2

Reyer Venezia vs. Yakin Dogu Universitesi 65-56 REYE Walker 21/12r Fontenette 16/6r Ruzickova 15/9r YDUB McBride 17 Hollingsworth 12/18r Carson 11/9r Vandersloot 11/8r/7a Robinson 4/11r Cakir 0

February 9, 2017

Good Angels Kosice vs. VBW CEKK Cegled 79-64 KOSC Oblak 17 Stehlikova 13 Baugh 12/14r Zirkova 11 Allen 9 CEGL Skoric 17/7r Nagy-Bujdoso 12/6r

Virtus Eirene Ragusa vs. Galatasaray 67-77 VIRT Vanloo 16 Ndour 15/10r Gorini 15 Consolini 11 Larkins 2/9r/6a GALA Jefferson 16/6a Vitola 14/7r Traore 14 Da Silva 8/7r Paris 0