Kate Vilka and Campobasso Win Convincingly in Women's EuroCup Basketball Opener
Italy's Magnolia Basket Campobasso, featuring Latvians Kate Vilka and Laura Meldere, beat Slovenian champions Cinkarna Celje 75:53 at home. Spain's BAXI Ferrol, with Latvian Nikola Priede, opened its campaign with a loss in Greece.
On Wednesday, 14 October, the first-round games of the new EuroCup Women season, Europe's second-tier club basketball competition, were played. Italian club Magnolia Basket Campobasso, which includes Latvian players Kate Vilka and Laura Meldere, beat Slovenian champions Cinkarna Celje 75:53 at home.
Before the European competition began, Campobasso had won two Italian league games, both on home court. The opposing roster featured former Slovenian national team point guard Nika Barič, Montenegrin guard Zoran Radonjič and Egyptian center Ranim Elgedawi. Celje is coached by Damir Grgič, a former head coach of the Slovenian national team. Their presence did not trouble the hosts.
Key performers
Kate Vilka anchored Campobasso's offense, scoring 18 points in 28 minutes 36 seconds. She shot 2 of 4 on two-pointers, 2 of 6 on three-pointers and 8 of 10 from the free-throw line. The forward also grabbed five rebounds, made two steals, posted a plus/minus of 29 and a performance index rating of 17.
Center Laura Meldere scored four points in 18 minutes 24 seconds, pulled down three rebounds and had a plus/minus of 13. Italian national team player Sara Madera added 19 points and eight rebounds.
Other games
Spain's Galicia-based club BAXI Ferrol lost away to Olympiacos SFP of Piraeus, Greece, 68:96. Nikola Priede played 17 minutes 56 seconds for Ferrol, scoring two points with three rebounds, two assists and one turnover, for a performance index rating of 5. For the hosts, former Riga TTT player Kaira Lamberte scored nine points and gave nine assists.
Tournament format
Teams were drawn into 12 groups of four, and each will play six games, home and away. The top two from each group and four of the 12 third-placed teams will advance to the knockout stage, joined by four EuroLeague clubs that finish fourth in their groups. Knockout rounds are decided over two legs on aggregate. The final legs are scheduled for 1 and 8 April.
