Regular Season Week 1 Review
SNUBBED AYAYI HITS BACK
Valeriane Ayayi had to wait a little longer to showcase her skills in Istanbul than those of her compatriots who were selected to play for France at the recent FIBA World Championship for Women.
Despite playing at EuroBasket Women 2013 (albeit under former head coach, Pierre Vincent) Ayayi wasn't handed a spot for Turkey 2014 - a surprise to say the least after Les Bleues had trumpeted their explicit desire to base their team around emerging talent.
Ayayi reacted in the best possible way this week with a spectacular 30-point display in Istanbul for Basket Lattes Montpellier Agglomeration in a fine road win against reigning champions Galatasaray odeabank.
It felt like a vigorous poke in the eye for Les Bleues head coach, Valerie Garnier.
Although maybe that was exactly why she was overlooked - to get a reaction and fuel the hunger of a player some might feel was handed too much, too young.
And, Ayayi could barely have done any more in response to the crushing disappointment of being omitted.
The real observation is that France looked impotent on the wings offensively at the Worlds. Diandra Tchatchouang is rock solid defensively and a big presence, but the 'X-Factor' ability of Ayayi always looked like something of a necessity.
Having also opted not to take Olivia Epoupa either, it will be interesting to see how the U20 European Championship MVP also reacts to not being included too.
Of course this is only one big display from Ayayi and she needs to show consistency to win back her spot for EuroBasket Women 2015.
She isn't going to score 30 points a game, but if she can underline her burgeoning maturity then perhaps she will be welcomed back.
For it was actually her 12 precious rebounds that stood out the most as most players can get a hot-hand on any given night, but crashing the boards and mixing it up inside for a wing player takes a certain mentality.
SLIDING ONTO THE RADAR
While a nightmare opening night for Schio as they crashed at home in a big way to CB Avenida, one of the bright spots was a neat introduction to EuroLeague Women for debutante Cecilia Zandalasini who played 21 minutes and was 3 of 6 from the field and grabbed four rebounds. There is definitely more to come from this gifted young player and both EuroLeague Women and Italian fans can feel lucky to be be able to watch her development now at the highest level.
Still a teenager for a couple more months, Zofia Hruscakova continues to impress and went six of eight for Good Angels Kosice to collect 12 points, although probably should have grabbed a couple more boards.
Another teenage talent in Fleur Devillers played 13 minutes for BLMA in that vital win at Galatasaray. She made her only shot and crucially, turned it over just once to show she can develop and increase her contribution.
And although she didn't get any court time, it was good to see Zhosselina Maiga get onto the Nadezhda bench and she is a very highly rated frontcourt player who is a huge prospect for the future Russia senior national team.
NUMBER CRUNCHING
The most impressive number of the first week was probably a phenomenal 19 rebounds from Elodie Godin for BLMA.
Tanisha Wright made all eleven of her free-throws for AgĂĽ Spor against Fenerbahce.
An eye-catching seven players shot over 60% from downtown in the competition on opening night, with CB Avenida collectively making 10 of 17 against Schio.
Jana Vesela also reached 200 steals in the competition for ZVVZ USK Prague against UMMC.
PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK
Energa Torun came oh so close to scooping this prize on their debut in the tournament, but were just edged out by Nadezhda.
Basket Lattes Montpellier Agglomeration and specifically Ayayi were terrific even if Galatasaray odeabank were short-handed with Sancho Lyttle and Nevriye Yilmaz absent. Having missed the chance to get it done in regulation, BLMA could easily have been shot mentally, but instead found the toughness to go again and take a superb opening night triumph which was very, very impressive.
However, CB Avenida made everyone sit up and take notice with their breath-taking 90-65 road win at Beretta Famila Schio. Congratulations to Alberto Miranda for a brilliant winning return to the competition and it looks like the chemistry the team has with almost everyone returning, has paid dividends. I was also really impressed by the contribution of Marija Rezan and the Salamanca club get my vote for performance of the week.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"I believe, today is not a day for congratulations, but to go to a church, light the candle and say ‘Thanks God'. The first and third quarter of the game were the ugliest I have seen in my life." A distinctly unimpressed Nadezhda Orenburg Region, head coach George Dikeoulakos on squeezing past debutantes Energa Torun.
Group A
ZVVZ USK Praha - UMMC Ekaterinburg 71:77
Good Angel Kosice - Wisla Can-Pack 55:68
Galatasaray - BLMA 59:66
Group B
AgĂĽ Spor - Fenerbahce 78:84
Nadezhda - Energa Torun 65:63
Bourges Basket - BK IMOS Brno 88:38
Beretta Famila - CB Avenida 65:90
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