Levice Advances to FIBA Champions League Play-In Stage After Victory Over Riga
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Levice (Slovakia) secured a spot in the FIBA Champions League play-in stage following a decisive victory over Riga (Latvia).The win was celebrated by players and coaches alike, marking a significant achievement for the team, especially considering their journey through the qualifying rounds. The final score was not provided in the source material,but the quotes indicate a comfortable win for Levice,notably in the second half.
Key Quotes from the Match
Juraj Suško, Levice coach: “Our team will shine, club, it’s just amazing, a huge joy.”
Boris Bojanovský, Levice player: “It’s great. I guess no one expected it before the start of the group stage, but we showed that we can play with everyone. I think we fully deserved to advance. A good start definitely helped us,we immediately stretched it to ten points.We defended well. Then the opponent tried to hold on a bit, but at the beginning of the second half we fully broke it and then basically it was just the end.”
Akol Mawein, Levice player: “It was a challenge from the start. We had to go through the qualifiers to play in the group stage. We wanted to show everyone every day that we can do it. We have a great group of guys. Now you can see how much work we put into it. It’s a nice feeling. Kudos to the whole team.”
Martins Gulbis, coach of Riga: “Congratulations to the Lionesses for advancing to the play-in. They deserved it,they managed to make it to this stage of the Champions League from the qualifiers. We where missing three players in the squad, plus we had another one out on Monday.With nine players,it’s like we had a misfortune,we made sacrifices,but we fought. But I’m proud of the boys and their character. if you want to win at the opponent, you can’t allow them to give 24 points from counterattacks. That’s how it’s hard to fight for a win.”
Arnaldo Toro, Riga player: “Tough game. We were losing very quickly and it was tough to fight for the victory. The lefties made a lot of shots, played aggressively and had a lot of second chances, rebounds. We lost, it was more difficult for us to turn around when we played with nine or ten players. But I’m proud of the guys, we stuck together.”
Riga Faced Challenges with Player Availability
Riga coach Martins Gulbis highlighted the significant challenges his team faced due to player absences. Missing four players, including one who was sidelined just before the game, left Riga with a severely depleted roster of only nine players. He acknowledged the team’s effort despite the adversity, but pointed to allowing 24 points from counterattacks as a key factor in their defeat. https://www.fibalp.com/ (FIBA Europe website – general information on the Champions League)
Levice’s Strong Performance and Qualifying Journey
Levice’s success is particularly noteworthy given they had to navigate the qualifying rounds to reach the group stage. Players emphasized the team’s dedication and hard work throughout the process. Boris Bojanovský noted the team’s strong start and defensive performance as crucial to their advancement. The team’s ability to capitalize on opportunities and secure second-chance points was also a key factor in their victory, as highlighted by Riga player Arnaldo Toro.
Looking Ahead
Levice will now advance to the play-in stage of the FIBA Champions League, where they will compete for a spot in the Round of 16. The team’s strong performance and team spirit will be vital as they face tougher competition.Riga, despite the loss, demonstrated resilience and character, and will likely look to strengthen their roster for future competitions.
key Takeaways:
* Levice advanced to the FIBA Champions League play-in stage.
* riga faced significant challenges due to player absences.
* Levice’s strong start, defense, and second-chance points were key to their victory.
* Both teams demonstrated strong team spirit and resilience.