On Friday, the ŽBL starts, USK Praha is attacking, in addition to the title, an unbeaten record
Update: 27/09/2022 13:16
Issued by: 27/09/2022, 13:16
Prague – After a break of more than five months, the 31st year of the Czech Women’s Basketball League will start with two matches on Friday. Reigning champion ZVVZ USK Prague will attack for the 13th title in a row, 17th in a separate competition and 25th overall. The players of coach Natália Hejková, who have a streak of 245 consecutive wins, can break the absolute record of the Brno Frogs (256) from 1997-2006 in December.
The women from Prague have not lost in the top competition since 2013, when they fell short in the final series against Žabiny (then IMOS Brno). USK can equal the record on December 10 at the KP Brno field. The 16-time Czech champion would try to set a new maximum a week later in the 12th round at home against Žabiná.
“It’s a coincidence that it turned out like this. On the other hand, it will be attractive to the audience. I believe that Zabiny will not give their skin away for free. Even if it will be difficult, they will definitely do their best so that their series is not broken,” he said at today’s press conference conference sports director of the competition Martin Jakeš.
The Brno team is preparing for the duels. Before the December match at Královka, they will host USK at home on October 8. “The Frogs are getting stronger year after year, but so is USK. I would be happy if the streak was broken and any other team could easily break it. We will definitely prepare for each other’s matches,” said the governor of the Association of Women’s League Clubs (AŽLK) and general manager Žabin Radek Šír.
The format of the competition is the same as last year. In the regular season, ten teams will play each other in two rounds (18 rounds). The top eight will advance to the play-offs, where the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final will be played for three winning matches. Unlike last season, the group of eliminated quarter-finalists will not play for 5th to 8th place. The name of the champion will be known no later than April 30, 2023.
In addition to the domestic competition, USK Praha will again be active in the Euroleague, where they will try to improve on the last fourth place. The Brno teams Žabiny and KP will participate in the Eurocup, Ostrava and Chomutov will participate in the EWBL.
The so-called Czechoslovak Cup will continue for the second year, which will culminate from March 10 to 12 with a battle between four Czech and four best Slovak teams. FInal 8 is produced on the board of the previous champion Hradec Králové. The season will also include the 28th edition of the Czech Cup, which will take place again without the participation of USK Prague. The Final Four will take place in Chomutov.
Qualifying “windows” for advancing to the 2023 European Championship will take place in November and February. The Czechs will play in the Netherlands in November, the start in Belarus will be decided by FIBA, which can exclude their opponents from the competition. In February, coach Romana Ptáčková’s team will finish the qualifiers with home games against Ireland and the Netherlands.
After Renomia, the new titular partner of ŽBL became the betting office Chance, which entered into a partnership for three years. “I believe that it will move the league forward in terms of marketing and sports,” added Jakeš. The new partner will award the Chance Award to the best under-23 player with the best assist to turnover ratio.