Rarely has favoritskapet been greater on a team in a CHAMPIONSHIP final than the A3 Basketball bar on the eve of the first match against Högsbo.
Umeå, sweden-the team has lost four finals in a row – all against Luleå. Now play the final for the fifth year in a row, but this time a real skrällgäng of the resistance.
is the newcomer in the Swedish basketball league ladies, come seventh in the series – and they managed to beat out five-time champion Luleå in the quarter-finals.
" We have everything to gain, they have everything to lose, said Högsbos star Hanna Johansson in SBL play before the match.
And it was exactly as it looked in the first game in the finals.
the A3, which only lost one match at home all season, looked nervously out. There was not at least on the straffkastprocenten, 42 per cent.
Högsbo, however, performed at the top. Johansson led the team in the first halvek, dominated under the baskets, and at half time led to surprising 32-31.
" We had a little bit of self-confidence, and the shots went in in the beginning, but the air went out of us. Clearly, there are always nerves. We tagged on to win, but it's time to focus, " said Umeå's Sandra Hansson at half-time.
from the beginning to the end, but finalspöket continues to elude the A3.
Högsbo won surprisingly the first final of five with the 68-63, and the question is what should be able to stop skrällaget from Gothenburg, sweden.
" It was a little shaky in the beginning, both teams felt a little on each other. We had not the best start, but came into it the longer the match went on and ended well. It was great to win at home, " says Johansson.
" Foul stopped me a little bit (in the second half). But we have a strong team, and when I got in trouble took over.
Final number two is played in Gothenburg on Saturday.
Read more: Three generations of Fredrikson and basketkampen in Gothenburg, sweden