Roundup: Avenida appoint Lopez, Fenerbahce close, more titles dished out
MUNICH (EuroLeague/EuroCup Women) – Perfumerias Avenida have appointed Lino Lopez as coach, Fenerbahce are a win away from Turkish glory, while more championships have been won around the Continent.
MUNICH (EuroLeague/EuroCup Women) – Perfumerias Avenida have appointed Lino Lopez as coach, Fenerbahce are a win away from Turkish glory, while more championships have been won around the Continent.
Ortega followed by Lopez in Salamanca
He had already announced earlier this year that he was intending to end his tenure in Salamanca and Miguel Angel Ortega has now formally left Perfumerias Avenida, with Lino Lopez jumping into the hot-seat.
Lino substituye a Miguel en @CBAvenida Vaya 2 pedazo de entrenadores!!!. Buen 👀 en Salamanca. Nos hacemos mayores... todos compañeros en #CelsoMiguez a finales de los ‘90 - principios de los ‘00! @IvanVillar6 @APerezcainzos @Lucaspuime7 @linolopez04 @pmig8 #GaliciaCalidade pic.twitter.com/honJVkhbPb
— Luis Arbalejo (@arbalejo) May 19, 2018
The Uni Ferrol playcaller will have a tough act to follow after his predecessor took Avenida to another Liga Femenina title, Copa De La Reina and SuperCup. Even if European success was not achieved in either EuroLeague Women or EuroCup Women, Ortega went with his head held high.
But, many will feel Lopez now deserves a shot at the elite level, with the former pro-player having worked wonders for some seven seasons with Uni Ferrol – taking the club into the top tier during his journey, as well as into the Copa De La Reina and Play-Offs.
Fenerbahce one win away from glory
Turkish giants Fenerbahce could be about to land the championship after moving 2-1 up in the five-game series against current holders, Yakin Dogu Universitesi.
📸 Maçtan kareler! #PotanınKraliçeleri pic.twitter.com/MXuRDzt7hK
— Fenerbahçe SK (@Fenerbahce) May 19, 2018
Having lost their title during 2017 to their rivals, it will certainly taste sweet if they can recapture it again. Their second victory came as Kelsey Plum dropped 20 points and Kia Vaughn racked up 17 points and 10 boards in an 81-68 triumph.
Bourges straight onto the front foot
Bourges Basket have made a lightning start in their Finals series against Tarbes after they blasted their way to a commanding 86-66 victory at Le Prado.
Match 1 : ✅ #FiertéTango #FinalesLFB pic.twitter.com/mOiwbp9YLd
— Tango Bourges Basket (@BourgesBasket) May 19, 2018
Playing against her sister and Canadian national team colleague Michele, there was a nice shooting effort from Katherine Plouffe who fired 14 points, while Diandra Tchatchouang, Cristina Ouvina, Valeriane Ayayi and Marine Johannes also got into double figures.
Elsewhere in Europe
Elfic Fribourg have taken the Swiss title after they cruised to a 3-0 series win against Troistorrents.
They signed off their season with a 74-81 win, thanks mainly to a classy 30 points and 8 assists from Marielle Giroud.
There has been no change in the destiny of the Slovenian championship after Celje climbed back to the top of the podium for a seventh consecutive season.
— Košarkarska zveza SI (@kzs_si) May 18, 2018
They collected their 14th title after sweeping Triglav 3-0 in the Finals, wrapping up the silverware with a rampant 87-45 victory that was founded on 21 points from Iva Slonsjak.
In London, it was Sevenoaks Suns who retained their WBBL championship at the spectacular surroundings of The 02 Arena.
🏆 @SevenoaksSuns lift the Play-Offs trophy for the second year in a row!#BritishBasketball pic.twitter.com/9gLSdyUcPB
— WBBL (@WBBLofficial) May 20, 2018
They hammered Leicester Riders 69-44, with MVP Cat Carr claiming 19 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists.
Meanwhile there was no mistake in the Belarusian Finals for Tsmoki-Minsk, as they swept their series against Horizont. They soared with a 62-86 success, with a mammoth 25 points and 18 boards from American center, Kai James the difference-maker in the decisive contest.
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