Expansion

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Romanian League champion CSU Asesoft Ploiesti has replaced MMT Estudiantes in the 2007-08 ULEB Cup. Ploiesti will make history by joining the ULEB Cup, becoming the first Romanian team to take part in the competition. The club has been nearly unstoppable in its national competition, lifting four consecutive Romanian League trophies between 2004 and 2007. It also lifted the Romanian Cup title in 2006 and 2007. Moreover, Asesoft Ploiesti made history by winning the 2005 FIBA Europe Cup, downing Lokomotiv Rostov 74-75 in the title game thanks to late free throws by Vladimir Kuzmanovic, who earned MVP honors with 28 points.



MMT Estudiantes withdrew from the competition on Tuesday night, thanking the organization for considering the club for participation in the ULEB Cup. However the club had already prepared its economic and sports budget without planning on playing in European competition and it felt that it would not be able compete in a fully competitive way, Estudiantes explained in an official press release. Estudiantes, however, hopes to join ULEB competitions in the near future.

I think it is a positive move. Of Spanish teams are stronger but since Estudiantes declined the offer it is good to see even more countries included.