MUNICH (Germany) - Valencia Basket Club are celebrating a historic step after reaching the EuroLeague Women Semi-Finals for the very first time. They went down to CIMSA CBK Mersin in the second leg of their Semi-Final Play-Ins matchup but still advanced off the back of their huge 32-point win in the first meeting last week. Meanwhile reigning champions Fenerbahce Opet are now just two wins away from retaining their EuroLeague Women crown after beating Beretta Famila Schio in the other Semi-Final Play-Ins tie. ZVVZ USK Praha are heading to Final Six after winning their Quarter-Final Play-In against Basket Landes, while Tango Bourges Basket are heading to the same destination after overcoming Casademont Zaragoza across the two legs.
Key storylines
- Valencia land in the Semi-Finals for the first time in their history despite defeat in Mersin; - Fenerbahce are closing in on another title after doing the double over Schio; - Praha lock down Landes to secure their ticket to Final Six; - Joy for Bourges as they take last available slot for April's season showpiece.
Daily Highs
Efficiency: Emma Meesseman (Fenerbahce Opet) - 29 Points: Kitija Laksa (Beretta Famila Schio) - 25 Rebounds: Kayla Alexander (Valencia Basket Club) - 13 Assists: Julie Allemand (Fenerbahce Opet), Teja Oblak (ZVVZ USK Praha) - 7 Steals: Helena Pueyo (Casademont Zaragoza) - 4 Blocks: Gabby Williams (Fenerbahce Opet) - 2
Bitter sweet for Valencia as they survive scare to make Semi-Finals
Holding a huge advantage heading to Mersin, there looked to be little prospect of Valencia not making the last four, but they had to scramble in the end after going down 92-77 in the second game of the Play-Ins. Mersin got within single-digits of their target before a late flurry from Valencia extinguished their hopes.
Almost climbing a 32-point mountain, Mersin will have to be content with a place in the Quarter-Finals at Final Six. The good news for them is that the recently returned Marine Johannes looks on top form already with 21 points, while Natasha Howard had a double-double of 18 points and 10 boards. Leonie Fiebuch fired 16 points in defeat.
Meesseman gets Fenerbahce over the line
Fenerbahce had to work hard to see off Schio 64-60 and stamp their pass to the Semi-Finals in a game that had formed a sense of deja vu from the first meeting. Fenerbahce went ahead early but Schio came back and almost overturned a 16-point deficit thanks mainly to 25 points from Kitija Laksa.
But Fenerbahce had their own star baller to rely on to see them over the line, with Emma Meesseman turning up the heat and delivering an excellent 19 points and 10 rebounds.
Praha snap up ticket for Final Six
ZVVZ USK Praha will step out at Final Six after a super second-half show against Basket Landes took them to a 69-43 home court victory. Winning the first encounter of their Quarter-Final Play-In by a modest four points, the tie followed a familiar pattern.
That was until Praha stepped on the gas after the break and drove their way out of sight by locking down Landes and holding them to just 21 points in 20 minutes. Australian center Ezi Magbegor chose to have one of her best showings of the campaign with 14 points and 11 boards, while Brionna Jones weighed in with 21 points.
Bourges complete Final Six lineup
They may have went down 73-64 to Zaragoza at Le Prado, but Bourges are heading to Final Six courtesy of an 11- point aggregate success and that will inflict heartache on their opponents. Looking to make up for a huge setback last week, Zaragoza made amends with a victory but never looked like completing a fairytale comeback.
Bourges were propelled yet again by Amy Okonkwo who stepped off court with 17 points to take her team in the Quarter-Finals, while Marie Mane top-scored for Zaragoza with 15 points.
Results
Wednesday February 26 Semi-Final Play-Ins Fenerbahce Opet 64-60 Beretta Famila Schio (150-140 on aggregate) CIMSA CBK Mersin 92-77 Valencia Basket Club (149-166 on aggregate)
Quarter-Final Play-Ins ZVVZ USK Praha 69-43 Basket Landes (141-113 on aggregate) Tango Bourges Basket 64-73 Casademont Zaragoza (139-128 on aggregate)
FIBA