Big success or how did Prometheus spend the season?

instead of a preface. Last summer, after the announcement of the composition of the participants of the 2022/2023 European Cup, a lot of comments appeared in the basketball branches of Russian sports sources in the style of “what kind of incomprehensible club from Ukraine”, “where to play”. in such a tournament”, “at most one or two wins for them” etc. Commentators tried out which teams would be more suitable than Prometheus to qualify for the second European Cup and agreed that Slobozhans’ participation in the tournament was a very humanitarian aid to Ukrainian basketball. And how nice that the “giants” send these “experts” after their ships at the end of the season.

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In the 2022/2023 season, the main task for Ukrainian club basketball was survival. But the leadership of the “giants” decided to continue the progressive development of the team, despite the full-scale war. “Prometheus” entered the Latvian-Estonian Basketball League, which replaced our Super League for Slobozhans, and on the international stage the wards of Ronen Ginzburg would participate in the European Cup, a tournament in which the Ukrainian representatives had not been for nine years. year. At first, such steps seemed rather risky, but the club did a lot of work and was confident that they would succeed.

Without highlighting the highest LEBL level, it turns out that the main litmus test for the “giants” throughout the season will be the second most important club tournament in Europe. By the standards of this competition, the squad of Slobozhans came together quite worthy, but the status of those who entered an absolute high society, conditionally home matches in Riga and Kaunas and only the club representing Ukraine (not the highest rated country in Europe) basketball and even in the midst of hostilities in his native land), he assigned the “Prometheus” the maximum role of the “black horse”.

B.C. Prometheus

It was very difficult for Slobozhans at first but gradually the coaching team adjusted the game of the team and the key basketball players found their rhythm. Ondzhey Balvin was the last to do so. The Czech center completely repeated the situation of his predecessor Miro Bilan. Last season, the Croatian player also rocked for a long time and only Ronen Ginzburg’s personal confidence saved him from relegation, but then the Balkans became the cornerstone of the team. This season, Balvin has followed an already beaten path.

After seven rounds were played, Slobozhans had three wins and four losses, after which the team’s fans were more concerned about entering the playoffs than reaching the later stages of the tournament. However, after December 6 (the day of the final defeat of “Prometheus” in the group stage of the European Cup), the “titans” delivered an outstanding streak of more than thirty consecutive matches in two tournaments. . He included eleven consecutive wins in the regular championship of the European Cup.

Prometheus has become one of the main forerunners of European basketball. Articles were written about the team, interviews with the players of the Slobozhansky club were published on the European Cup website, and in the power rating for status of the second European Cup, the club entered the top five. It is worth noting that in parallel with this, “Prometheus” shook Riga. If very few spectators attended the first international matches of the “titans” in the Latvian capital, then at the end of the season there were much more fans and changes in the noise level and quality of support. Our team was felt even from the screen.

B.C. Prometheus

Separately, it is worth saying that the Ukrainian club remains Ukrainian and continues to talk about it. Exit with the flags of our country, reminders of the situation in Ukraine at press conferences, donations for ZSU, free tickets for Ukrainians and education for the children of our immigrants. All this happened, and the “giants” not only threw the ball around the hoop, but also helped the common cause on the fighting arenas.

Can “Prometheus” win the European Cup? Quite a few. But His Majesty’s luck intervened. Fortune decided that things were going very well for the Slobozhansky club and before the main games of the season a massive injury epidemic rained down on the team. So much so that, let alone the successful results in the European Cup, even the victory in the LEBL became a big question mark.

However, the club resisted. First, with his seven-and-a-half-man squad and his playstyle that had to be re-drawn due to injuries, he won the Final Four in the LEBL and then passed 1/8 and 1/4 of the European Cup. On the international stage, the Slobozhans deftly reaped the fruits of their group stage work, making them a relatively easy playoff group. In the first two rounds of the postseason, the Titans beat formidable but still manageable opponents Germany’s Hamburg and Greece’s Promiteas. However, in the semi-finals, tough rivalries ended, only the favorites of the tournament remained.

B.C. Prometheus

The Turkish “Turk Telekom” was exactly that, but here even “Prometheus” could count on success. I wish the team (and especially Gian Clavell) had been more accurate on free throws, Slobozhans hadn’t made so many three-pointers that clearly weren’t the best shooting evenings, James Dickey hadn’t had it’ Axel Butel from Türk Telekom hadn’t taken incredible long-range shots with the tightest protection, He took three fouls very quickly and would have given Ondzhey Balvin more time to rest in the second half, who had obviously eaten. After all, if Prometheus had dropped the ball on one of his last three attacks. But how it turned out. Too bad we can win.

But getting into the top four teams of the European Cup was a great success for the Slobozhan club. And one of the main sensations in the European club season. The moments when “Türk Telekom” players embraced as if they had won the Euroleague after their victory in Ronen Ginzburg’s wards, and some basketball players rolled on the floor screaming like little children are indicative. He says the Ukrainian club is no longer a “dark horse”. For representatives of the best European championships in the second European Cup, the “giants” have already become equal to them. If Prometheus continues its progressive development as an organization, then great victories will surely come.

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Appetite comes with food. And it’s hard not to agree with that. What might have been considered a great success seven months ago is now perceived with some disappointment. Despite this, Prometheus has met and exceeded their tournament duties for the season. And he did something else. Over the past two years (we’re also counting the recent FIBA ​​Champions League), the Titans have returned to Ukrainian orange ball fans a long-forgotten taste of great victories in European club basketball. And after February 24, when everyone has several times less reason for joy, that is doubly valuable.

Brilliant matches, victories over strong opponents, overcoming difficulties after heavy injuries, championship in the LEBL, success in the European Cup. Prometheus’ tournament path has become the brightest part of the officially concluded 2022/2023 Ukrainian basketball season. And a good mark can be given to the wards of Ronen Ginzburg for him.