Expert Panel: Who will win the title at the Final Four?

BOURGES (France) - The EuroCup Women Final Four is about to drop and our expert panel has offered their  insight on how things might play out in Bourges.

We specifically asked our three experts to predict the pair of the Final, the player who might make a big difference for each team, the Final Four MVP and, of course, the 2022 EuroCup Women champion.

Azania Stewart is a FIBA commentator and an experienced Great Britain national team star and Olympian. She helped London Lions to make EuroCup Women history this season, notably beating Final Four contenders Bourges.

Playcaller Martins Zibarts held the coaching reins of Olympiacos SFP during this EuroCup Women season and has experience of multiple campaigns in EuroLeague Women with TTT Riga and at international level at the helm of the Latvian national team. 

Meanwhile, Tom Thuillier is flying the flag for the media in his capacity as FIBA's social media specialist for the competition.

Which two teams will make the Final and why?

CBK Mersin Yenisehir Bld are tipped by all the panel to meet hosts Tango Bourges in the Final  

Azania Stewart: I think the home crowd is going to help the French side make one last push to the finish line and so it's Tango Bourges into the Final for me. I also think CBK Mersin Yenisehir Bld will be on a winning high, coming off their Turkish Cup win and are on a mission to win all the silverware available this season.

Martins Zibarts: In my opinion, the Final will be between Bourges  and  Mersin. Bourges have showed that they are playing the best defense in the competition. In the Semi-Final [against Galatasaray] their main focus will be how to stop Kelsey Plum, but they have a good match up with Elin Eldebrink and they are playing all five players in defense as a team, all helping each other. There will also will be a sixth player for them - those amazing fans at their home court of 'Le Prado'. In the other Semi-Final, Mersin is loaded with top-level talent. Against LDLC ASVEL Feminin in the Quarter-Finals and in the Turkish Cup Final against Fenerbahce Safiport, they showed that if they play as a team, it is hard to stop them. 

Tom Thuillier: I will go with Bourges and  Mersin. Bourges haven't lost at home since October and playing in front of their fans in a packed arena could be the difference maker. Even if Umana Reyer knocked out the reigning champions Valencia Basket in the Quarter-Finals, I think that the step might be too high against the stacked roster of Mersin.

Who are the 'X-Factor' players for each club?

Will Tina Krajisnik defy our panel 's predictions and carry Galatasaray to the Final?

Azania Stewart:  Tina Krajisnik from Galatasaray because I'm such a big fan of hers. I think she is always so solid for her team. She does all the little things and is so selfless. You can always count on her to come up with a winning stat line. Elin Eldebrink from Bourges is such an experienced point guard and plays with the fire and energy that her team needs. She has a repertoire of skills that can really be deadly and playing at home could get the crowd into the game and help Bourges make it to the Final.

In the other Semi-Final, Tiffany Hayes from Mersin is a fantastic spark of energy and with a team full of stars, I think she still finds ways to make her team better on both ends of the court. Meanwhile Yvonne Anderson from Reyer is such a strong guard and has been tested in many big games and then come up with game-winning shots. As long as she stays aggressive and finishes around the rim, she will be key.

Martins Zibarts: When we played against Bourges in the Round of 8,  the hardest player to guard was Laetitia Guapo, who plays with the kind of intensity that we could not match and if she repeats that she could become a key factor for success. She is also probably the only player who can match up with the quickness of Tiffany Hayes if it is a Mersin vs. Bourges Final.  For Mersin, the 'X-Factor' has to be Temi Fagbenle. She is the main rim protector and also biggest threat in a paint on offense, and if they do play against Bourges, they will need to stop Iliana Rupert and Isabelle Yacoubou as a first option in offense.

Kelsey Plum will be a main outside threat for Galatasaray, but the 'X Factor' could become Tina Krajisnik, since they need to have players who could take advantage of the chances that the guards create inside. That same role in Venice could be for Astou Ndour, as Yvonne Anderson and Kayla Thornton will try to create in both the guard and forward positions.

Tom Thuillier: Elin Eldebrink for Bourges Basket is a threat from behind the arc and her team will need that, plus all the firepower possible to keep their trophy hopes alive. Tiffany Hayes erupted in a big way for Mersin this season, but also had some difficult periods too.

We have quite a similar case in Kaela Davis who has shown what she can do with both Tenerife and Galatasaray. They’re both impressive scorers that can take their team to a whole different level. I’d go with Martina Bestagno for Umana Reyer. She really was a key player in every one of her team's important wins this season. She is a tough player under the basket and injects energy into her team.

Who will win the EuroCup Women title and why?

Bourges Basket will have home advantage inside 'Le Prado' as they look to repeat their home title success of 2016.

Azania Stewart: I pick Mersin to win the Final Four because I think they have built a championship team with a lot of players who know how to win on a big stage. As well as on the court, they also all seem to be having a good time off the court together too.

Martins Zibarts: I will pick Bourges as maybe they don’t have so many big names this season, but they are playing excellent team basketball. They have six players who average 10 or more points and another two close to 10 points. They play with great ball movement, leading the competition in assists, and they have a  team approach on both offense and defense. Additionally, they are playing at home and will have amazing fan support. 

Tom Thuillier: I think we can all agree that Mersin were the big favorite heading into the competition and they announced their lofty ambitions earlier this season. They might have one of the most impressive rosters in the history of the EuroCup Women, with a group of players who all know how to win a championship.

Who will be the standout player to take their club to the title?

Mersin star Temi Fagbenle will play against her former team in the Semi-Finals after making the Final with Umana Reyer last year

Azania Stewart: Temi Fagbenle will be the MVP. Not only did she just win the MVP in the Turkish Cup last week, but she is on a mission to get back to another EuroCup Women Final because last seasons she had a devastating loss in the last few seconds of the title game. So she is 100 percent gunning to lift that EuroCup Women trophy and add it to her prestigious collection.

Martins Zibarts: Since I have chosen Bourges,  it is very hard to predict who will be the MVP because there can be six or seven players who can become the main player on that particular night. But, I will predict  Iliana Rupert to be the winner and take the MVP award.

Tom Thuillier: The danger can come from anywhere on the court for Mersin. Temi Fagbenle and DeWanna Bonner are centerpieces for me and they really showed why in the Turkish Cup, Turkish League and in the EuroCup Women. 

FIBA