WELS/GMUNDEN. According to Harald Stelzer, spokesman for the OCS Swans Gmunden, defending the title in the basketball super league is more complex than it has been for a long time. “Of the eight teams that are still in the race, seven can become champions. Only St. Pölten I don’t trust with this consistency,” said the veteran, who has been in the scene for decades and therefore knows how to do it running.
The “basket hunters” from Traunsee start the play-offs on Sunday (5.30 p.m.) with home advantage, which will take place in best-of-5 mode. This means: Whoever wins three out of a maximum of five matches will be promoted.
Ex-Gmundner with a declaration of war
The role of favorites against Oberwart cannot be argued away, even though the Gunners marched through the qualifying round with a clean slate and arrive with eleven wins en suite.
It’s no wonder that Daniel Köppel, who wore the Swans jersey last season, is full of pure self-confidence: “I think we have everything we need to win in Gmunden,” emphasized the 23-year-old 2.11 meter man: “It will definitely be a tough and exciting series.” Horst Leitner, the Gunners coach, certainly has respect for: “Starting the play-offs in Gmunden – it couldn’t be more difficult.” Especially since the champion from Upper Austria can play with the best line-up and has won the two duels of the season so far – 75:54 in November and 81:73 at the end of January. Swans captain Daniel Friedrich is not the type to make big noises: “We need a top performance, Oberwart is not an easy opponent.”
The Raiffeisen Flyers Wels are also looking forward to the play-offs. “We are ready. Now is the best time of the year,” said captain Christian von Fintel, who and his colleagues are already starting today (5.30 p.m.) – also with home advantage – against UBSC Graz. And with the knowledge that we have won three of the four previous games against the Styrians in 2023/24 (including the most recent one on April 7th with 82:76). This is good for the psyche.
Welser chance for the double
“The fourth meets the fifth – on paper alone that promises a lot of excitement,” said Flyers coach Sebastian Waser, who knows what it feels like to win a title. The Welsers have already triumphed in the cup this year and thus qualified for the Supercup. Now they are hunting for the double.
In the first stage it will be important to get the Graz key players under control. The UBSC has six Americans in its ranks, two of whom shine with exceptional statistics: Zach Cooks is the league’s top scorer with 709 points, Jalen Shaw is number three in rebounds – he picked up an average of 9.63 balls. Who has air sovereignty today?
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