| 09.04.2011 EuroLeague Women Final Four Sparta&K Meet Familiar Foes Avenida For Title It's hard to believe that we're one year removed from the EuroLeague Final that was played in Valencia. But here we are, in 2011, getting ready to watch that same club do battle again in the EuroLeague Women title game. That club, of course, is the runaway train of European Final Fours that goes by the name of Sparta&K M.R. Vidnoje. They gave themselves a shot at another championship by winning 54-43 over Final Four hosts UMMC Ekaterinburg on Friday. Yes, Sparta&K are back in the title game. The players look as if they believe the hype, that when it comes to Final Fours, Sparta&K have some sort of mystique that makes them unbeatable. Even when trailing 31-22 early in the third quarter to UMMC, there was no panic. If anything, Pokey Chatman's team looked as if they had UMMC right where they wanted them. They concentrated, played hard, switched to a zone defense in the second half and ended up pulling away with UMMC unable to find the way to the basket. UMMC missed some shots they'd normally expect to make, lost their focus and doubt crept in. With Noelle Quinn, Epiphanny Prince, Jelena Milovanovic and Taj McWilliams providing plenty of points, and Sue Bird serving as the conductor of the Sparta&K orchestra, Chatman's team won and moved to within 40 minutes of another title. Sparta&K are smart. There were no huge celebrations after their victory over UMMC because Chatman and her players knew the job isn't finished. They now have to go up against a very good Halcon Avenida, a team they know well. Avenida, who won 61-49 over Ros Casares on Friday, split their two Qualifying Round encounters with Sparta&K back in winter. What was so impressive about their fourth straight win this season (the first three in domestic competitions) against Ros was the cool they displayed when trailing for 25 minutes. They have so many options on offense, be it in the low post, on the wings or with dribble penetration. The battle between the McWilliams/Osipova duo of Sparta&K and the Avenida duo of Erika De Souza/Sancho Lyttle is intriguing. What will Sparta&K do to stop Alba Torrens? Can Avenida put the shackles on both Prince and Milovanovic? In the first game, that Sparta&K won, they had Lauren Jackson and Anete Jekabsone-Zogota and did not have Bird or McCarville. In the second meeting, Bird and McWilliams were on board but Avenida won in Salamanca, 75-64. There's no telling how Sunday is going to play out. What is without question is that Sparta&K will go into the title game believing they are going to win. UMMC Ekaterinburg, meanwhile, will square off against Ros Casares in the battle for third place. Ekaterinburg will be desperate to make sure their fans get to celebrate a victory this weekend. | 
