MUNICH (Germany) - There were significant celebrations for a trio of clubs on Wednesday night as Valencia Basket Club jumped to the Final Six and French duo Tango Bourges Basket and Basket Landes both claimed the wins they needed to lock down their spot for the Play-Ins. Elsewhere, Beretta Famila Schio continued their momentum by handing a first loss of the campaign to CIMSA CBK Mersin, a result that means Fenerbahce Opet are now the only team still yet to taste defeat after they maintained their own perfect run.
Key Storylines
- Valencia do the double over Spanish rivals Casademont Zaragoza make Final Six; - Bourges get the job done at Avenida to reach the Play-Ins; - Landes re-discover their home form to cement their Play-Ins ticket; - Schio hand Mersin their first defeat after Laksa and Juhasz light it up.
Weekly Highs
Efficiency: Emma Meesseman (Fenerbahce Opet) - 31 Points: Kitija Laksa (Beretta Famila Schio) - 25 Rebounds: Dorka Juhasz (Beretta Famila Schio)- 17 Assists: Emma Meesseman (Fenerbahce Opet) - 9 Steals: Emma Meesseman (Fenerbahce Opet) - 5 Blocks: Myriam Djekoundade (Basket Landes) - 2a
Romero inspires Final Six slot; French duo fly into the Play-Ins
Valencia guard Leticia Romero chose a great time to come up with a season-high 19 points to lead her team past Casademont Zaragoza 79-64.
The victory wrapped up a Group F win double against their fierce Spanish rivals, made even sweeter with their success delivering a guaranteed Final Six ticket on the floor where the showpiece event will be played in April. Bourges did the business 62-51 at Perfumerias Avenida to make sure they locked down a Play-Ins place. It was Amy Okonkwo who inspired them against their short-handed hosts with a typically brilliant 21 points and 11 boards, that ended Avenida's dreams of advancing.
Basket Landes made it a French double as they recovered from a sluggish start to turn up the dial against Zabiny Brno and claim what in the end, proved to be a comfortable 76-60 win. A great team performance, it was rising star Leila Lacan who was the pick after scoring 18 points and also grabbing 3 steals. Kitija Laksa and Dorka Juhasz were both unstoppable for Schio who posted their most impressive result of the campaign as they took down the previously unbeaten Mersin 83-71. Latvian winger Laksa erupted for 25 points, while Juhasz dominated in the paint and finished with 12 points and a magnificent 17 rebounds - the highest by any player in a game this season. Finally, Fenerbahce remain imperious as they strolled to another victory in what continues to be a perfect season. They swept past Umana Reyer Venezia 86-66, with Emma Meesseman moving into a high gear.
The Belgian star produced a top class line of 22 points, 9 assists, 5 steals and 5 rebounds, while Tina Charles also produced in the paint with a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Results
Wednesday, January 22 Perfumerias Avenida 51-62 Tango Bourges Basket Casademont Zaragoza 64-79 Valencia Basket Club Beretta Famila Schio 83-71 CIMSA CBK Mersin Basket Landes 76-60 Zabiny Brno Fenerbahce Opet 86-66 Umana Reyer Venezia
FIBA