The last four teams remaining in the 2018-2019 WABA U15 season are known following the QF tournaments that took place Feb 10th and Feb 17th in Ljubljana and Zagreb. Tresnjevka 2009 (CRO), Celje (SLO), Ilirija (SLO) and Crvena Zvezda (SRB) are our F4 participants.

The QF’s system in WABA League comes in the shape of two tournaments with 4 teams in each tourney playing a SF’s/Final/3rd place schedule, all in one day, the top 2 teams of each tournament (winners of SF’s) advancing to the Final Four.

In Ljubljana on Feb 10th, Ilirija, group B leaders, maintained their flawless record winning both of their games, though it was easier written than done! They were strongly challenged in their SF match against group A #4 team Kanizsa (HUN) who, led by the fantastic Dominika Baa (45-13-9as-8st-8to), stayed in the game the whole time, only losing by 6 points (81-75). Hana Ivanusa (2004) did the more damage for the winning side, impressing with a superb 27pts-9reb effort on 79% FG2 (11/14), with Hana Sambolic (2004) (18-3-6as-4st), Zoja Stirn (2005) (13-3-4as) and Sara Sambolic (2004) (6-6as) providing the necessary extra contributions.
In the final of the QF tournament Ilirija saw off SRB’s Crvena Zvezda rather easily 84-64. They were once again carried by Hana Ivanusa who posted another massive performance with 29pts-9reb on 8/10 FG2 & 4/6 FG3, leaving her with a 28ppg-9rpg average for the tournament! Crvena Zvezda didn’t play bad but Ilirija connecting on 64% of FG2 and 57% FG3 overall was just too much to cope with.
In their own SF game Crvena Zvezda had to fight hard to move past MTN’s Buducnost Lovcen 64-58. Marija Avlijas was crucial in the W with 23pts, the same player who topscored again later in the day for her team against Ilirija with 12pts. Lovcen had a trio of players to count on in Marija Baosic (2004) 18-6-5as, Hajdana Scepanovic (2004) 12-6 and Nikolina Vukcevic (2004) 11-10. The winning side also benefited from the solid outings of Sara Vasilijevic (2004) 10-5-6as-7st and Andreja Stankovic (2004) 8-12.
In the 3rd place game, Dominika Baa (2004) posted her second 40+pts game of the day (as well as of the season), this time finishing with 42pts 6reb 4ass, meaning she averaged 43,5pts-9,5reb-5ass per game over the tournament! Kanizsa routed Lovcen 79-33.

In Zagreb on Feb 17th, both SF’s were routs. The hometeam Tresnjevka 2009 confirmed their #1 ranking after the group phase by walking past SLO’s Vipava 74-39, Dorja Zaja (2004) 16pts-17reb and Tihana Pavicic (2006) 21pts leading their team to the W. Celje had it even easier against MNT’s Primorje, outscoring their opponents by 39pts 88-49. NGR’s phenomenon Jite Sophia Gbemuotor (2004) impressed again with 18pts-29reb (17off!!!). Jovana Savkovic (2005) had 15pts for the losing side.
In the final Tresnjevka 2009 defeated Celje 77-63, a contest in which Dorja Zaja was not to be denied, posting a huge 30pts-15reb effort, well backed-up again by Tihana Pavicic who finished with 19pts to her name. Jite Sophia Gbemuotor stood out in defeat with a 18pts-15reb statline.

On the eve of the first QF tournament WABA League announced the recipient of this season’s MVP award and it is the 2005 MNT sensation Jovana Savkovic who earned the title finishing the season with a splendid 24,1ppg-6,6rpg-6,6apg contribution.

QF’s Results

Ljubljana Feb 10th
SF
(1) Ilirija 81 – (4) Kanzsa 75
(2) Crvena Zvezda 64 – (3) Lovcen 58
Final
(1) Ilirija 84 – (2) Crvena Zvezda 64
3rd place
(4) Kanizsa 79 – (3) Lovcen 33

Zagreb Feb 17th
SF
(1) Tresnjevka 2009 74 – (4) Vipava 39
(2) Primorje 49 – (3) Celje 88
Final
(1) Tresnjevka 2009 77 – (3) Celje 63
3rd place
(4) Vipava 71 – (2) Primorje 60


Dates and location of F4 tbd