USK Praha basketball players will welcome the undefeated Ekaterinburg in the EL hit
Updates: 11.01.2022 14:25
Released: 11.01.2022, 14:25
Prague – At the beginning of the new year, the USK Praha basketball players will face a challenging challenge, a challenge in the fight for second place in Group A on Wednesday at the reigning champion Ekaterinburg. Coach Natalie Hejková’s trustee will try to prepare for the Russian favorite this year’s first defeat and at the same time repay him in October’s close loss (73:75) after a controversial basket in the last second. The start of home support by Alyssa Thomas, who had a positive coronavirus test during the Christmas break, should join the team and should join the team just a few hours before the start of the match.
The Prague women have won eight out of 10 matches in the Euroleague so far and have a certain quarterfinals. However, they won only one of the last ten duels against Ekaterinburg – the last time at home in January 2019 (82:73). The Russian sovereign is attacking the seventh Euroleague title in history this year and the fourth in a row. In total, he won the competition in the last 29 matches in a row.
“The players rested during the holidays and returned to basketball with gusto. On the other hand, we also lost the rhythm and lightness of our pre-Christmas sleepy ride. Since then we have discovered only one very light league match in Strakonice, so the question is how we will start the match with such a tough opponent, “Hejková told ČTK.
USK has won six matches in a row in the EL, the last time they lost to Ekaterinburg after a dramatic ending by two points. At that time, the people of Prague were angry at the referee that Alexandria Bentley’s first three were not whistled by her interiors Alba Torrens. This controversy in the team still resonates.
“The fact that Bentley sometimes shows the winning basket in the top ten of the first half of the Euroleague offends us because it was a violation of the rules before that. We will see how we manage to do it now, “said the Slovak coach.
The start of Thomas’ home sub-basket support is uncertain, as she could not travel from the USA to the Czech Republic due to a positive test and the team is still not available. “If the control test is OK, she should arrive at one o’clock on Wednesday. It can be said that she could join only a few hours before the match,” Hejková said.
On the contrary, Ekaterinburg should arrive in Prague with all the stars, including the trio of Marie Vadějevová, Jonquel Jonesová and Allie Quigleyová, who have a shooting average of over 14 points per match in the Euroleague. The Russian favorite can now count on the American quarterback representing Hungary Courtney Vandersloot.
“It will be a harder match than theirs, Ekaterinburg will be in full force. It is the biggest favorite, the richest club in the Euroleague and although some players have European passports, it is practically the American selection. the hall will fill from the maximum possible capacity, “added Hejková. Her long-distance team is fighting for second place in the group with Salamanca, who has a duel in Montpellier postponed due to coronavirus.
The USK match against Ekaterinburg will start in the Královka hall in Prague on Wednesday at 19:00.