Photo: BWB / Ahmedphotos
A cracking weekend of wheelchair basketball action as EuroCup 2024 got underway!
Bidaideak Bilbao (James MacSorley) won two out of three games in Champions Cup Group A in Istanbul, Turkiye. In the first game, they won 67:80 against Hornets Le Cannet. In the second game of the weekend, they were narrowly defeated 101:98 by Galatasaray S.K. In the final game of Group A fixtures, they won 68:55 against Köln 99ers.
Briantea 84 Cantù (Sophie Carrigill) won two, lost two, in Champions Cup Group B which took place in Meda, Italy. In the first game, they lost 55:63 against Santo Stefano KOS Group. In the second game, they won 42:52 against CS Meaux. In the third game, they were defeated 58:72 by RSV Lahn-Dill. In the final game of the weekend, they had a hard-fought victory in a close game against Econy Gran Canaria, winning 85:87.
CD Ilunion (Gregg Warburton, Terry Bywater) delivered a dominant display of skill in Klosterneuburg, Austria, in Group C of Champions Cup. In the opening game, they won 29:104 against Interwetten-Coloplast Sitting Bulls. In the second game, they won 95:48 against Club Tregorrois Handisport de Lannion. In the third game against BG-Baskets, CD Ilunion won 31:86. Rounding out a weekend of back-to-back wins, CD Ilunion won 79:37 against GSD Porto Torres.
Izmir, Turkiye, played host to Eurocup 1 Group A, which saw London Titans (Jack Perry, Gaz Choudhry) and Rhine River Rhinos (Jim Palmer) compete. In the opening game, Rhine River Rhinos won 55:68 against hosts Izmir BSB. Up next, London Titans were defeated 48:74 by Hyeres Handi Basket. Head to head, Rhine River Rhinos took the win 83:52 against London Titans. On day two, Rhine River Rhinos were defeated 68:70 by Hyeres Handi Basket. London Titans defeated hosts Izmir BSB 57:62. In the 3rd place playoff, London Titans were narrowly defeated 68:66 by Izmir BSB. In the final, Rhine River Rhinos delivered a dominant display to take the Group A win 48:73 against Hyeres Handi Basket.
Hannover, Germany, hosted Group B of Eurocup 1, where Manchester Revolution (Martin Edwards, Tyler Baines) and Sheffield Steelers (Maddie Thompson) competed. The two British teams got their weekend started against one another, with Sheffield Steelers claiming the win 64:53. Next up, Manchester Revolution were defeated 58:84 by hosts Hannover United. Sheffield Steelers won 47:67 over Pilatus Dragons RCZS. On day two, Manchester Revolution suffered a 45:84 defeat by Fenerbahçe Spor Kulübü. Sheffield Steelers were defeated 39:74 by hosts Hannover United. In their final games of the group, Manchester Revolution were defeated 61:45 by Pilatus Dragons RCZS and Sheffield Steelers lost 96:48 to Fenerbahçe Spor Kulübü.
