EuroLeague 1 finals qualification for The Owls and GLL & Aspire London Titans following a triumphant EuroCup Champions League preliminary round campaign.
Both the Owls and the GLL & Aspire London Titans nailed their opening games of the preliminary round of the Champions League on Friday 2 February. The Owls played a stormer against GSD Porto Torres with the dynamic on court pairing of Gregg Warburton and Jack Perry delivering point after point, bagging the team’s first win of the tournament in Wetzlar (Germany).
In Erfurt (Germany) the GLL & Apsire London Titans took its dramatic first game right up unit the fourth quarter buzzer with Harry Blyth taking the game into extra time with a two point score. Bringing home the win against ASD Handicap Sport Varese Ade Adepitan delivered in a 2 point lay up in the closing seconds of the game.
Following a sensational opening to the competition, both teams experienced tough loses in their next two games.
The London team faced a third place play-off game to conclude its tournament. Once again the Titans were pitched against ASD Handicap Sport Varese in what promised to be another difficult game. A strong Titans team took to the court determined to secure its place at the EuroLeague 1 finals in April, dominating the game from the first moments. A strong final result 67-37 to the GLL & Aspire London Titans ensured that the team’s EuroCup competition will continue in Bilbao in April.
In the penultimate game in Wetzlar the Owls met cs Meaux bf to decide the future of its 2018 EuroCup competition.
In what proved to be a nail-biting game going into the third quarter with just eight points between the two teams, a defiant Oldham squad controlled the third and established a healthy lead. Ultimately the Owls closed the game with a 20 point lead and a place at the EuroCup 1 final.
Spectators of this weekend’s IWBF Eurocup Champions League will be left in no doubt about the calibre of wheelchair basketball currently being played on British courts, as two premier division teams return home after securing qualification into the EuroLeague 1 final.
British Wheelchair Basketball’s, Interim CEO, Jo Richards was closely watching the action unfold in Germany:
“Simply incredible games of wheelchair basketball have been played in Germany this weekend. Our premier division teams were focused and disciplined in their preparation to compete in Europe and they thoroughly deserve the wins secured on court.
“The qualification of not just one, but two BWB National League Premier Division teams into the EuroLeague 1 finals is testament to the quality of the game in the UK. It demonstrates the elite wheelchair basketball being played in our Premier Division and what a true spectator sport it can be.
“There is no doubt that fans of the sport will be now counting the days till the Bibao final in Spain on 26-29 April.”
Photo credit: uliphoto.de
