Schio, Mersin clinch historic Final Four slots, as Praha secure return

MUNICH (Germany) - Beretta Famila Schio and CBK Mersin Yenisehir Bld will play at the EuroLeague Women Final Four for the first time, with ZVVZ USK Praha booking a return to the season finale alongside the two debutantes on Wednesday.

The trio all got the Quarter-Final Game 3 wins they needed to advance and join Fenerbahce Alagoz Holding at the prestigious event, with the Istanbul giants having qualified last week.

Beretta Famila Schio became the first Italian club to reach the last four of the competition in more than two decades as they won another highly entertaining game 62-53 against Valencia Basket Club.

They finished their campaign on their home floor unbeaten and that has been a big factor in writing a new slice of history, having only previously competed in Final Eight formats.

It was a pulsating contest, but Schio just had too much down the stretch. Backed by their noisy fans and with frontcourt duo Jasmine Keys and Astou Ndour impressing, they took their opportunity. The former registered a super efficient 14 points and 8 rebounds, with Ndour top-scoring for her team with 17 points - the same tally registered by Raquel Carrera in defeat.

CBK Mersin Yenisehir Bld produced a serious sense of deja vu against Tango Bourges Basket. Having lost in the second game narrowly on the road, they repeated their devastating form of Game 1 with another crushing win at home, this time taking down their opponents 91-63.

Making their move midway through the second quarter, Chelsea Gray got on a roll and some great work from her put Mersin on the path to victory as they dropped 27 points in the second period. Gray eventually stepped off the floor with a brilliant 27 points, 9 rebounds, 7 rebounds and 3 steals. Elizabeth Williams played the perfect cameo with a smart 14 points and 8 rebounds. 

ZVVZ USK Praha secured back to back Final Four appearances although had to work hard to see off a pesky Perfumerias Avenida 74-66 in the Czech capital. A worrying second half injury to the influential Maria Conde and foul trouble for star center Brionna Jones complicated matters for the hosts, but they managed to see out the game in a nervous final few minutes.

Ultimately Praha had  too much and boasted the top performers in the contest and none more so than Alyssa Thomas, who harvested 20 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists. Fellow forward Temi Fagbenle had a perfect shooting night en route to 14 points and 7 boards, while playmaker Teja Oblak weighed in with 19 points. 

FIBA