Gambrinus Sika Brno made a loud statement about their title chances in the Czech top flight with a season-opening thrashing of BK Strakonice.

Playing their first ZBL game away from home, EuroLeague Women juggernauts Gambrinus rolled to an 86-41 victory.

Montepaschi Siena had no equals in Italy last season in the league title race and the same might be said again after this year if their Supercup triumph over Air Avellino is any indication.

Siena won 108-72 over last year's Coppa Italy winners to win the first honor up for grabs in 2008-09.

BC Red Star Belgrade could, and probably should be described as a sleeping giant.

The club, that will in November attempt to qualify for the EuroCup with a game against Tartu Rock of Estonia or Basket Swans of Austria, won 15 national titles in the former Yugoslavia but its last championship was 10 years ago.

There is good news and bad news following Finland's first EuroBasket Division A run since their promotion-winning campaign of 2006-07.

The Finns are happy that they won three games, including Saturday's 88-73 home triumph over Hungary. They're positively ebullient after avoiding a last-place finish in a ‘Group of Death' that also included Serbia, Bulgaria, Italy and the Hungarians.