В стартующем завтра розыгрыше женской баскетбольной Евролиги примет участие 21 команда, которые разбиты на три группы по семь команд. В группе все команды сыграют друг с другом два раза - дома и в гостях. Первые пять команд каждой из группы пройдут в следующий этап.
От России в Евролигу были допущены три команды - УГМК (Екатеринбург), Спарта (Видное) и Надежда (Оренбург). В конце прошлого сезона было много вопросов о том, кто должен представлять Россию в Евролиге - бронзовый призер чемпионата (Надежда) или победитель Кубка Европы-2012 (курское Динамо). К счастью, FIBA Europe выбрало "Надежду" ,чему я, конечно же, очень рад !!!
"Надежда" попала в группу "В" и ее соперниками стали - Фенербахче (Турция), Шопрон (Венгрия), Фамила (Италия), Кошице (Словакия), Тарговиште (Румыния), Аррас (Франция).
Первым соперником будет словацкий "Кошице", которого мы принимаем дома в СКК "Оренбуржье" 24 октября 2012 года. Небольшое превью матча с сайта словацкого клуба goodangelskosice.eu (я думаю переводчиками в наше время все умеют пользоваться) :
V stredu o tretej popoludní nášho času rozohrajú basketbalistky Good Angels Košice už svoju ôsmu sezónu v EuroLige FIBA. Premiéra nového súťažného ročníka bude mať pre nášho úradujúceho šampióna ešte jednu premiérovú príchuť. Na ruské kluby naráža deväťnásobný slovenský majster pravidelne, ale stretnúť sa s klubom Nadežda Orenburg doposiaľ ešte nemal tú česť.
Vedenie klubu by asi celkom neprotestovalo, keby im júlový žreb návštevu rusko-kazašského pohraničia odoprel a hráčky by taktiež oželeli príležitosť prežiť zhruba 14 hodín v lietadlách, či ďalších približne deväť na moskovskom letisku Šeremetievo. Nič z toho sa však nestalo a v týchto chvíľach sa už výprava Good Angels nachádza v meste nad riekou Ural.
Ak sme v úvode vo všetkých pádoch skloňovali slovo premiéra, tak sa mu ešte chvíľu budeme venovať, pretože euroligová premiéra čaká aj na trénerskú dvojicu nášho tímu Maroš Kováčik – Peter Jankovič. Prvý menovaný odkoučuje v najprestížnejšej klubovej súťaži starého kontinentu prvý duel v pozícii hlavného trénera, druhý spomínaný zažije svoj "krst euroligovým ohňom".
Debut košických kormidelníkov nebude rozhodne jednoduchý. Ich zverenkyne čaká súper, ktorý už toho má na európskej scéne odohratého viac, ako dosť, no po vlaňajšej sezóne, v ktorej mu len o vlások unikol postup do euroligového Final Eight a doma naň zvýšili len "zemiakové" medaily, je aj podľa portálu www.lovewomensbasketball.com doslova hladný po úspechu.
Ako vo svojom článku konštatuje Janis Kacens, práve nevydarený otvárací zápas minulej s talianskym Schiom stála v konečnom poradí Orenburg pozíciu, ktorá by mu vo vyraďovacej sérii so Sparta&K-om Moskva zabezpečila výhodu domáceho prostredia. Tá, ako sa neskôr ukázalo, bola v tejto sérii rozhodujúca, keďže všetky tri zápasy sa skončili víťazstvom domáceho tímu dvojciferným rozdielom.
Aj v ruskej Superlige došiel Nadežde dych v samom závere sezóny a aj v reakcii na to sa vedenie klubu rozhodlo posilniť najmä ofenzívu. DeWanna Bonnerová a Renee Montgomeryová by sa podľa Janisa Kacensa mali primárne zamerať na streľbu. Obe by mala podporovať ich krajanka, no zároveň držiteľka ruského pasu Kelli Millerová.
Napriek tomu Paul Nilsen však vo svojom článku na www.fibaeurope.com pasuje Orenburg až na tretie miesto v pomyselnom poradí ruských tímov účinkujúcich v EuroLige. Za pravdu mu dáva aj Iva Perovanovičová, podľa ktorej je v súčasnosti najlepším ruským tímom UMMC Jekaterinburg – inak aj úradujúci ruský šampión.
Ak spomíname Ivu Perovanovičovú, tak táto čiernohorská reprezentantka prišla do Orenburgu z poľského tímu CCC Polkowice, aby vyplnila post uvoľnený po odchode Rebekky Brunsonovej. Ako však Paul Nilsen dodáva, nahradiť vlaňajšiu najlepšiu strelkyňu Nadeždy v EuroLige rozhodne nebude pre rodáčku z Podgorice jednoduché.
Obaja žurnalisti však Orenburgu odhadujú umiestnenie v prvej trojke v rámci základnej B-skupiny a pasujú ho za jedného z kandidátov na postup do Final Eight, k čomu by Nadežde mala pomôcť aj najužitočnejšia hráčka majstrovstiev Európy 2011 a účastníčka tohtoročných olympijských hier v Londýne Jelene Daniločkinová.
Maroš KOVÁČIK, hlavný tréner GOOD ANGELS Košice:
Lucia KUPČÍKOVÁ, kapitánka GOOD ANGELS Košice:
CLUB PROFILE - GOOD ANGELS KOSICE (fibaeurope.com) :
The rise and rise of Good Angels Kosice in recent years has been outstanding, but with each year that now passes, it may be more difficult to sustain continuous improvement. After transforming themselves into a club now expected to reach the play-offs, have the capabilities of Good Angels Kosice plateaued, or can they take the next step and book a spot at the Final Eight ?
When former head coach Stefan Svitek was dismissed by the club, it was a surprise and not understood by most people. Now we are preparing to find out whether the club will regret this decision or will move on and continue to impress.Maros Kovacik is now in the coaching hot-seat and he will benefit from a glut of particularly shrewd signings including the frontcourt trio of Tijana Krivacevic, Petra Kulichova and Plenette Pierson, as well as Alexandria Quigley and shooter Katarina Pindrochova.
Simply outstanding when in Sopron before playing a limited role for last year's EuroLeague Women Final Eight runners-up Rivas Ecopolis, Krivacevic is a great addition who brings wonderful defensive versatility and is still improving at just 22 years of age. Kulichova will embark on her ninth successive year in EuroLeague Women in what will be her first season outside of her homeland. Having waved goodbye to the hugely impressive contribution of Sparta&K M.R. Vidnoje loanee Natalia Vieru, it's clear the Good Angels would like Kulichova to pick up the baton and utilise her superb shot-blocking and rebounding ability.
Pierson is a veteran forward and a two-time WNBA champion - although oddly, this will be her first season in the EuroLeague Women but she is likely to relish this kind of a challenge so late in her otherwise impressive career which has seen her regularly compete in EuroCup Women. Quigley recently starred for Hungary during the EuroBasket Women Qualification Round and steps back into the EuroLeague Women where she previously stood out for Pecs 2010. She will add a scoring threat with her all-round skills a welcome boost to the roster, while Pindrochova has proven her worth in the Slovak League.
During recent times, Kosice general manager Daniel Jendrichovsky has handed some star players an opportunity to make their mark in the EuroLeague Women - most notably Angel McCoughtry and Candice Dupree. Now, it's seemingly the turn of playmaker Riquna Williams to try and establish herself, having recently completed in her rookie WNBA season with Tulsa Shock.
However, it's a trio of returnees that may hold the key to success. Icelandic swing player Helena Sverrisdottir is likely to be even better during her second season, forward Lucia Kupcikova remains one of the most underrated players in European basketball, and Miljana Bojovic is cementing herself as a pivotal and influential fixture in the backcourt. Having stepped up to the plate as a playmaker, Bojovic believes that once again, the team ethic will be the most important factor. "The beginning of last season was very tough for us. We lost our captain and leader of the team, Zuzana Zirkova, due to injury, as well as Iveta Salkauske who left the club after one month and so nobody even gave us a chance that we might advance to the second round," Bojovic recalls.
"But, importantly, we kept believing and despite being among the youngest teams, we showed talent and big character to arrive in the last sixteen. "We didn't have big star players, but we had a real team and that was our key to success. "For me individually, it was indisputably my best season so far, but it was easy and a real pleasure to lead that great team with a great atmosphere. "Playing in the strongest club competition in Europe is definitely something that can only improve your basketball. If you put aside all the excitement and joy, every game brings new experience and I learned tons just by playing against the world's best point guards.
"I will not be modest and I'll say a realistic goal for this team is reaching the Final Eight," continued Bojovic. "Everything is possible on paper. But we will have to show our quality on the court since we have a lot of good experienced players as well as youngsters. We can play good defence and have possibilities to score from almost every position - you should watch out for the whole team."
Bojovic certainly couldn't be happier in Kosice and was also quick to explain one further reason why she is proud to play for the club. She explained: "Not a lot of people know why the team is called Good Angels and I think the whole of Europe should know that Good Angel aka ‘Dobry Anjel' in Slovakian, is a humanitarian organisation that supports people fighting against cancer. "The club donates a certain amount of money for each basket made in the EuroLeague Women to the organization Dobry Anjel. And, it's just one of the ways that the club are helping them."
Kosice also has some particularly wonderful young players who may get some minutes of the bench including Barbora Balintova, Martina Kissova, Beata Janoscikova and 1995-born standout Zsofia Hruscakova who I feel has a potentially huge future in the game - if she keeps working hard. Good Angels Kosice should probably reach the post-season. But, perhaps the Final Eight would actually represent an over-achievement, since expectation has arguably become too high. Yet simply making the play-offs would be a good accomplishment taking into account their respective resources.
CLUB PROFILE - NADEZHDA ORENBURG (fibaeurope.com) :
There's a real chance of a Russian-centric EuroLeague Women this year and not only due to the presence of UMMC Ekaterinburg and Sparta&K M.R. Vidnoje, but because Nadezhda Orenburg also looks a dangerous and exciting unit. Perhaps the key for a talented Nadezhda team this year will be to play the entire season with the specific mind-set of truly believing they are not only a Final Eight team, but also one that can make a serious amount of noise if they do participate in the climax of the season.
They look to have a roster with this kind of potential but of course, with several new players to integrate, they must gel quickly and can't afford the same kind of sloppy start which proved costly last season, when they missed out on home advantage in the play-offs. The reality of course is that even if they do post a strong campaign, Nadezhda will probably still be third in line (at least in the short term) when it comes to the trio of Russian clubs. It's a sentiment shared by one of the newest residents of Orenburg, Iva Perovanovic. "Yes, I think Ekaterinburg are the best team in the EuroLeague Women this year," agreed the Montenegrin national team star. She remains however hugely optimistic when it comes to the prospects of her own club. "Our own specific goal for this season is to be in the first eight teams and therefore to play at the Final Eight.
"This is one of the best teams I have played with during my career and it's also a new experience for me to play in Russia of course. "I think that we have a good group for the first round, and I really hope that we will be one in the top three teams in our group." Perovanovic will of course offer a complete contrast inside to the now departed Rebekkah Brunson, perhaps relying on her mobility and flexibility to do more away from the immediate low-post area. In terms of offence, she can still produce efficiently, although the main responsibility for points production will be American duo Renee Montgomery and Dewanna Bonner.
Both are experienced and dynamic players who can take over games and are likely to provide the main thrust on offence.
Montgomery brings her impressive guard skills to the table, whilst Bonner will handle the ball on the wings and look to slice and drive to the hoop on a regular basis. Interestingly, it may be how the hugely talented Bonner picks her moments which could have a significant bearing on the success, or otherwise, of this re-shaped Nadezhda team.Bonner is great fun to watch and regularly posts some special performances, but she has generally been the dominant player on previous teams and it will be fascinating to see if this changes, since Nadezhda aren't hugely stacked, but are still pretty deep. Another high-quality recruit is Latvian centre Zane Tamane who has effectively swapped places with Anastasiya Verameyenka having had a terrific Final Eight with Fenerbahce last season. Tamane should be a reliable presence and especially if she shows the kind of level she did in Istanbul. Meanwhile Kelli Miller returns to Russia again and her experience will be absolutely vital in the backcourt, probably coming off the bench, although the team actually looks well served in the guard spots. That's because they have also retained the services of Russian national team duo Elena Danilochkina and Natalia Zhedik.
Danilochkina didn't really catch fire the way everybody hoped after being crowned EuroBasket Women MVP in 2011 but is nevertheless a danger with the ball in her hands, especially from three-point range.
Zhedik is someone who had a steady first season in the competition last year and will be looking to now impose herself a little more when she has the chance. For Katerina Keyru who joins from Chevakata, it will be a rookie season at the elite level having played only in the EuroCup Women during a career which has seen her flirt with the Russian national team but not quite do enough to make the cut under Boris Sokolovskiy. So, if as expected he is replaced, then Keyru could have the perfect stage to prove she may be an option for the national team in the future.
Liudmila Sapova had her season ruined by a serious injury last time out, but she will be welcomed back on the wings and the small forward is capable of playing the kind of supporting cameos which could be vital in tight games. Her energy and ability to contribute in so many different facets of the game will be important.
There is also a glut of young players preparing to find varying degrees of court time and top of that particular list is Alexandra Tarasova who will be a potential back-up to the likes of Tamane. She looks a nice prospect and may find some healthy minutes whilst Anastasiya Maksimova, Kseniya Andreeva and Yulia Poluyanova will all be glad to grab what they can off the bench. The talent is definitely present in Orenburg and Nadezhda has been given the added bonus of a first round group which they could either top or certainly look to finish in second or third spot. This would go a long way to helping them achieve their aim of a first-ever Final Eight appearance and if they do make it, then they will be a team which will have a real shot at causing some surprises.
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