Ros Casares Crowned Champions

Turning Point: While the Ros Casares offence was far from slick, there was absolutely no questioning their defensive prowess. Valencia turned it up a notch after the break and held their opponent to just fifteen points during the second half and a paltry four points in the decisive final quarter.

Game Heroes: There was no real hero for Ros but just rock solid performances pretty much all round with Sancho Lyttle, Sylvia Dominguez and Ann Wauters the pick of the bunch.

Stats Don't Lie: The superior depth and strength of Ros Casares was evident in the battle of the boards which Ros won in convincing fashion 42-33.

Ros Casares were crowned champions of a historic first EuroLeague Women Final Eight after overpowering Rivas Ecopolis 65-52 in Istanbul as their domestic rivals suffered a major second half drought.

The Valencia club finally broke the resistance of gutsy Rivas who ran out of gas after their super run to the Final finally took its toll.

As underdogs and having already been soundly beaten on a number of occasions this season by their domestic rivals, Rivas Ecopolis knew they couldn't allow Ros to break the game early and needed to keep themselves in the game from the outset.

Successive baskets by Wauters had threatened to allow Ros to destroy that game plan when she put her team 12-6 ahead but Rivas hung in and stayed strong as they looked to cause yet another shock.

Indeed they were excellent as they not only clawed their way back but tied things up at 20-20 through the influential Asjha Jones at the start of the second period.

Rivas were doing a super job on the offensive glass and defensively were jamming the ball well and denying space in the passing lanes.

It provided the platform to build some momentum and even when Jones picked up her second foul and sat down, it didn't knock the Madrid club out of their stride.

The game was still locked at 28-28 approaching with five minutes to go until half-time when veteran guard Elisa Aguilar scored back to back baskets to put Rivas 34-28 in front.

She also helped her team maintain their advantage at the interval by providing an exquisite assist for Laura Nicholls who made it 37-33 going into the second half.

Sylvia Dominguez was the one player really excelling for Ros although she was in danger of being outshone by another buoyant performance by Aguilar who made a triple to put Rivas 48-43 ahead.

But, Sancho Lyttle stepped up to really get Ros rolling as they finished the third quarter with eight unanswered points, six of which were from little.

Trailing 51-48 and having not scored a basket in five minutes it was who else but Jones who got the scoreboard ticking over again for Rivas as the fourth period got underway.

However they would score just one further basket during the remainder of the game and Ros took maximum advantage as they pulled away and coasted to the title - one which they take from their arch rivals Perfumerias Avenida.

Quotes Rivas Ecopolis vs. Ros Casares

Ros Casares head coach Roberto Iniguez
"First of all I want to congratulate Rivas and Miguel (Martinez Mendez) because they played a wonderful tournament. They have to be proud of their work. I think we won this championship with our defensive play. Today we were not comfortable in the offence but we played harder defensively. I am very proud of my team and I think we are the best team in Europe this year."

Rivas Ecopolis head coach Miguel Martinez Mendez
"Congratulations to Ros Casares for the title because they were the best team in Final 8. They played very good basketball. Also congratulations to coach Iniguez because think that the coach is very important in the game. They have a lot of big players but they have a big coach too. Also thanks to all my players and staff. I think we played very good basketball in the championship. I am very proud of the job we have done."

EuroLeague Women Final Eight MVP Asjha Jones
"I am definitely honored to be the MVP. But basketball is a team sport. We played as a team and lost as a team. We came out and played aggressive but just had not enough for the last five minutes and they pulled it out."

Quotes Rivas Ecopolis vs. Ros Casares

Ros Casares head coach Roberto Iniguez
"First of all I want to congratulate Rivas and Miguel (Martinez Mendez) because they played a wonderful tournament. They have to be proud of their work. I think we won this championship with our defensive play. Today we were not comfortable in the offence but we played harder defensively. I am very proud of my team and I think we are the best team in Europe this year."

Rivas Ecopolis head coach Miguel Martinez Mendez
"Congratulations to Ros Casares for the title because they were the best team in Final 8. They played very good basketball. Also congratulations to coach Iniguez because think that the coach is very important in the game. They have a lot of big players but they have a big coach too. Also thanks to all my players and staff. I think we played very good basketball in the championship. I am very proud of the job we have done."

EuroLeague Women Final Eight MVP Asjha Jones
"I am definitely honored to be the MVP. But basketball is a team sport. We played as a team and lost as a team. We came out and played aggressive but just had not enough for the last five minutes and they pulled it out."