By FIBA Europe
Following the final game day of the EuroLeague Women Regular Season, the Quarter-Final Play-Off pairings are now confirmed.
Group A winners Dynamo Kursk of Russia take on the solitary French club in the last eight, Tango Bourges Basket; UMMC Ekaterinburg tip-off against Nadezhda in an all-Russian clash; Spanish club CB Avenida will enjoy the home-court advantage over ZVVZ USK Prague; whilst the fourth and final match-up sees a repeat of last year’s final when Fenerbahce take on cross-town rivals Galatasaray.
Despite Nadezhda finishing second in Group B, according to the EuroLeague Women Regulations Article 14, Note 1:
“If there are three (3) clubs from the same country qualified for the Quarter-Final Play-Offs and two (2) of these clubs are scheduled to play each other according to the system of competition, no changes are required.
If none of the three (3) clubs are scheduled to play each other according to the system of competition, then they will be ranked according to their results from the Regular Season. The 2nd ranked club will then play against the 3rd ranked club.”
Taking into consideration the above regulation, CB Avenida (8-4) have the home court advantage over fellow third-placed team ZVVZ USK Prague (6-6) on account of their superior win/loss ratio.
There was still plenty of intrigue heading into Wednesday night action, with four teams fighting for the two remaining spots from Group A to join Dynamo Kursk and UMMC Ekaterinburg in the last eight of the competition. By the end of the night it was ZVVZ USK Prague and defending champions Galatasaray Odeabank claiming the vacant spots after they defeated Basket Lattes Montpellier Agglomeration and Wisla Can-Pack respectively.
In Group B the four teams moving into the Quarter-Final Play-Offs were already known, but there was still the matter of confirming in which order. Fenerbahce, who finished the Regular Season with a bye, topped the group, whilst Nadezhda, on account of winning their Wednesday clash, finished ahead of CB Avenida who lost away to Tango Bourges Basket.
The Quarter-Final Play-Offs are best-of-three series with games set to take place on the 3rd and 6th of March, with a third game day scheduled for 11th March, should it be required.
EuroLeague Women Quarter-Final Play-Offs Pairings
Dynamo Kursk (RUS) v Tango Bourges Basket (FRA)
UMMC Ekaterinburg (RUS) v Nadezhda (RUS)
CB Avenida (ESP) v ZVVZ USK Prague (CZE)
Fenerbahce (TUR) v Galatasaray (TUR)
