“The demands in Gmunden have always been there,” says Richard Poiger, the managing director of the OCS Basket Swans, before today’s kick-off of the Champions League qualifying tournament in Belgrade (5 p.m.). The “Korbjäger” from Traunsee have big plans for the quarter-final duel with Pärnu Sadam. This Estonian club, which was only founded in 2000, ended the reigns of Kalev/Cramo, who had previously won the national league five times in a row, this year and clinched their first league title in club history.
Gmunden shows respect for the opponent, but not fear. “We flew to Serbia to win and not just to be there and say hello,” Poiger said. But this match will not be a sure-fire success. Ask Austrian champions BC Vienna, who narrowly lost 67-72 to Pärnu Sadam in the first qualifying round of the FIBA Europe Cup a year ago. The Estonians have quality and five legionnaires – two Americans, a 2.06 meter tall Australian center and two Ukrainians – in their ranks.
“Pärnu Sadam is a favorite on paper but can be beaten on a good day,” Poiger believes. Postscript: “We are Gmunden, we want to annoy the big ones.”
The “Swans” hired four foreigners in the summer: Zachary Charles, Urald King, Dominic Green (USA) and Dwayne Lautier-Ogunleye – playing for Great Britain at the EURO – are celebrating their competitive debut for Gmunden, who, if successful, will go to the Bakken Bears from Denmark will meet. But even a defeat does not end the international journey. The red-white-red runner-up has at least one ticket for the group stage in the Europe Cup in his pocket.
Source: Nachrichten
