EuroCup Women Preview: Wednesday 18 January

NYMBURK (EuroCup Women) – The play button is pressed once more in EuroCup Women on Wednesday as the Round of 16 gets underway with a quartet of first leg games to enjoy.

For Virtus Eirene Ragusa and Basketball Nymburk, there will be a familiar feel to their tie as they will lock horns again, having already faced each other during the Regular Season. Both games were tight encounters, with both clubs winning on the road.

This time around, competition newcomers Ragusa are hoping that the addition of Erlana Larkins could make the difference.

Head coach Giovanni Lambruschi is preparing to line her up in a potentially mouth-watering partnership in the paint with Astou Ndour.

He said: "We have seen that we have made the Final Four of the Italian Cup, and can now go ahead in EuroCup Women.

"Larkins is obviously a player who gives us her experience and has a kind outlook [with her team-mates] but I don't think she intends to be nice [to her opponents] when she gets out on the court."

There is further Italian representation in the Round of 16 with Reyer Venezia as they take on the ambitious Maccabi Bnot Ashdod in another game which looks difficult to call. Maccabi have been boosted with the addition of Erica Wheeler who has played this season at Perfumerias Avenida in EuroLeague Women.

That won't be the case when the unbeaten Galatasaray clash with PEAC-Pecs, since the Istanbul juggernauts will be big favorites to advance - although the Hungarian side are ready to look for the upset.

Another still flawless team are Spar Citylift Girona and they take their unblemished record to TSV 1880 Wasserburg who could still be stinging from a DBBL home loss to Rutronik Stars Keltern last weekend.

FIBA