Tomorrow, Gareth Murray’s Caledonia Gladiators will face Poland’s Anwil Wloclawek in the club’s second FIBA Europe Cup fixture.
The Polish side are the current holders of FIBA Europe Cup, having defeated French side Cholet 155-161 across two legs in April. Also, they currently lead the Polish top division with five wins from their opening five games – most recently defeating Śląsk Wrocław in their last game.
Wloclawek, where the side are based, is a charming Polish city, that offers a blend of historical richness and modern vibrancy. With its picturesque architecture, including the stunning Gothic-style cathedral, and a vibrant cultural scene, Wloclawek provides visitors with a captivating journey through Poland’s heritage. Gladiators will visit there in mid-November for an away trip after heading to Bilbao.
In a disappointing start to Europe Cup action for the Poles, they came out losers in their competition opener vs Bilbao Basket, with the Spanish side winning 79-83. Last night, despite the loss, Gladiators’ next opponents were led by Polish guard, Jakub Garbacz, who put up an impressive 16 points and 5 rebounds, along with one assist. Whilst Anwil won the rebounding battle by a 41-37 margin, as well as points from turnovers (22-12) and second-chance points (15-11), it was Bilbao who led in fast-break points (7-14), points in the paint (34-36) and points from the bench (29-61). Interestingly, the Spaniards only led for a minute and 41 seconds, with their biggest lead of the game being the final 4-point margin.
For Gladiators, on the other hand, they travelled to Transylvania for their Europe Cup debut, and came out on top over CSU Sibiu thanks to impressive performances from Mihailo Jovicic and Patrick Whelan. Despite a strong third quarter from the Romanians, Gladiators managed to prevail and picked up their first European win, in their first FIBA Europe Cup fixture.
At the weekend, Gladiators picked up an impressive overtime win against Sheffield Sharks at home – the side who defeated them heavily at their new arena just a week prior. Thanks to a clutch Lukas Palyza performance, the side managed an 87-83 win after 45 minutes of play.
Secure your seats at PlaySport for another historic night. Get your tickets on FanBase HERE!
