FIBA Europe's new competition EuroChallenge is set up. Today the teams found out their opponents in the first qualifying round. The draw was held in Berlin, Germany as well as EuroCup and Euroleague draws. The winner and runner-up of EuroChallenge will earn the right to play in the EuroCup next season. Eight teams qualified directly to the first qualifying round.
FIBA Europe's new competition EuroChallenge is set up. Today the teams found out their opponents in the first qualifying round. The draw was held in Berlin, Germany as well as EuroCup and Euroleague draws. The winner and runner-up of EuroChallenge will earn the right to play in the EuroCup next season. Eight teams qualified directly to the first qualifying round. Dexia Mons-Hainaut (Belgium), Keravnos (Cyprus), Kalev (Estonia), Larissa (Greece), Virtus Bologna (Italy), Ventspils (Latvia), Lokomotiv Rostov (Russia) and Khimik (Ukraine) will wait for their opponents. The season will be open on October 21st.
EuroChallenge Qualifying Round 1
Cherkaski Mavpy - CSK-VVS BK Prostejov -KK Zagreb BC Amak S.P. - Zlatorog CSU Asesoft Ploiesti -Spartak U-Mobitelco -EWE Baskets Svendborg Rabbits - CBC Siroki KK Borac Nektar -BC Polytechnica MBC Nikolaev - D. Bank Skyliners Energy Invest Rustavi -BC Sumykhimprom Spartak - Antalya Basket Aspis Apoel -J.A. Vichy Auvergne CSU Atlassib - Banvit BC Cedevita - Hyeres Toulon Var Krmend - EiffelTowers Den Bosch BC Donetsk - Proteas EKA AEL Bakken Bears - Liege Basket
Borys Maletskiy (Azovmash vice-president):
(Lietuvos Rytas, Lyon-Villeurbanne, Azovmash, Benetton T/Benetton F - Gran Canaria winner)
'We're lucky with a draw - comparing to previous seasons. So we're satisfied about the results. We were afraid about Russian teams known as a home ones - and we won't face 'em. We've inked the best players for being the favorites. I'm sure we can beat each of the opponents and we'll try to prove that'.
Borys Maletskiy (Azovmash vice-president): (Lietuvos Rytas, Lyon-Villeurbanne, Azovmash, Benetton T/Benetton F - Gran Canaria winner) 'We're lucky with a draw - comparing to previous seasons. So we're satisfied about the results. We were afraid about Russian teams known as a home ones - and we won't face 'em. We've inked the best players for being the favorites. I'm sure we can beat each of the opponents and we'll try to prove that'.
Vitali Khomenko (BC Kyiv general manager): (BC Kyiv - Telekom/Panellinios winner) 'I can't say we were lucky in a draw but I don't think we were unlucky, too. We can pass the winner of that pair. We would like to play vs Telekom but I think we'll face Panellinios Athens where ex-BC Kyiv players Damir Rancic and Milan Dozet have played. We'll have a difficult season if we step to regular season. Aris and Turk Telekom are very strong teams and Bnei Hasharon is really unknown team to everybody. But this draw is not so bad for us'.
Volodymyr Poliakh (MBC Mykolaiv head coach): (Skyliners - MBC Mykolaiv) 'We hoped to face somebody from Bosnia or Macedonia. But now we have ex-ULEB team as an opponent. We're seriously unlucky. But I promise we will fight and make everything for a win'.
* Eurobasket.com recommends mass-media to note the fibaeurope.com mistakes in Ukrainian EuroChallenge participants' names: MBC Mykolaiv and Politekhnika (correct)
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