24hoursworld

Everything on track: The Swans have their sights set on the treble

Everything on track: The Swans have their sights set on the treble
Gmunden’s legionnaire Urald King (left) in a duel with Enis Murati (Swans/Kienesberger)

The OCS Swans Gmunden got the reigning basketball champions BC Vienna into trouble with a brilliant 87:67 home win in the first final and felt less resistance on the way there than in the incredibly hard-fought semi-final series against local rivals Raiffeisen Flyers Wels. Today (8.15 p.m., ORF Sport+) a preliminary decision in the title race could already be made in the Hallmann Dome in Vienna-Favoriten. If the “Korbjäger” from Traunsee win again, they would win two championship balls in best-of-5 mode.

Vienna is good soil

The probability is not even that small, because in the capital the “swans” won the last three duels (including the Supercup in round one) – 107:86, 95:92, 80:79. For a new one? “We’re expecting a biting opponent who will give everything. We have to be ready from the first second to counteract this intensity and implement our match plan perfectly,” said Gmunden international Toni Blazan.

Coach Anton Mirolybov also expects strong Viennese: “It won’t be easy for us there. They’re really good at home.” 16 of 20 home games in this Superliga season were won, that’s a statement that the unleashed Swans can’t shake. They surf on a wave of euphoria, are in the rhythm and have been on an emotional high since the triumph over Wels in the all-important fifth match. “In the play-offs, things are happening one after the other. But we know this intensity from the European Cup and are prepared for this situation,” says managing director Richard Poiger, who doesn’t want to know anything about signs of fatigue.

It is a well-known fact that success gives you wings, making it easier to overcome yourself. Especially when the prospect of the second triple (after 2010) from the championship, cup and super cup is rosy.

Gmunden has their sights set on the 22nd title in the club’s history. The sixth championship cup would undoubtedly be the crowning glory. BC Vienna, who marched through the first two play-off rounds with a clean slate, feel the pressure. The nerves are strained.

Manager Petar Stazic-Strbac was angry with the referees after Saturday’s game at Raiffeisen Sportpark. “A scandalous second quarter was the preliminary decision. I hope that our team will be allowed to play regular basketball,” he rumbled. The criticism was triggered by numerous foul whistles on the part of the Viennese, who were missing the 2.08 meter tall national team center Jozo Rados (injured) at every turn.

Source: Nachrichten

Source link

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest Posts