Qualifying Round D, Game 1 preview: Allianz Swans Gmunden vs. Tartu Rock
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Tartu Rock hopes to advance to the Eurocup regular season after an impressive campaign last year, but will face a tough challenge from Allianz Swans Gmunden in the first qualifying round. Head coach Ullar Kerde is again at the helm after guiding Tartu to the Estonian championship as well as the semifinals of last season's FIBA EuroCup. Kerde's biggest addition was bringing in Euroleague veteran big man Tanoka Beard to establish some respect in the post. Beard joins returning center Janar Talts to give Kerde plenty of options in the paint. Also back for Tartu is 22-year-old point guard Giorgi Tsintsadze, one of the biggest leaders of Kerde's team last year. He will be joined by Viktor Sanikidze, who arrives from Spanish side Estudiantes. A possible boost could come from low post prospect Kristjan Kitsing - just 17 years old. Kerde's team has already played two top level games, winning at home against Lietuvos Rytas in the Baltic League and losing at Siauliai. Tartu opponent Allianz Swans will not begin its Austrian season until October 25, but head coach Bob Gonnen's team hopes to get a chance to repeat its surprising ULEB Cup campaign last season, when it reached the Last 32 before losing to eventual champion DKV Joventut. Gonnen brought back the core of the 2008 team that lost in the Austrian semifinals after having won the past three Austrian league crowns. The team’s leader is star guard Deteri Mayes, while fellow Austrian internationals Peter Hutter on the wing and Matthias Mayer in the blocks are the other top returnees. To help down low, Gonnen added power forward and shot-blocker Shelton Colwell from Austrian champion Furstenfeld. Also new to the club is wing man Elijah Palmer, while rookie point guard Anthony Fisher is expected to help run the show. But Mayes will likely need to have a big series if Allianz Swans hopes to knock off Tartu Rock and advance to the second qualifying round.
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Eurocupbasketball.com
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