by Paul Nilsen

With the big tip-off now less than two weeks away, Greek ace Evanthia Maltsi has spoken of her excitement at the prospect of another season competing in EuroLeague Women and has claimed USK Prague can improve on their performance last year.

The classy forward was in a buoyant mood after returning from the Ekaterinburg Tournament and is now looking forward to further illuminating her already glittering career with a tilt at European glory or at least bettering the last sixteen exit of last season.

Having lined up in the EuroLeague Women All Star game earlier this year, Maltsi is better placed than most to appreciate the quality that lies in wait and while hoping her team can progress to the latter stages, she was quick to underline the pedigree of the other participants.

She claimed "EuroLeague Women is the highest European competition and as players, we all realise that and we all want to give our best because of it! It is going to be hard but this is what we are practicing for. My team is trying to do something better and finish as high as possible."

"We all know that teams like Spartak and Ekaterinburg are really tough to beat. When it comes to being on court, we have to give our maximum and the best will win! Nothing is impossible and this is the magic of basketball."

"People have said that this year, our group is easy!" added Maltsi.

"However I really don't agree because there are no easy teams in EuroLeague Women - only teams that are really well prepared and who know exactly what they are doing on the court!"

Evina Maltsi carried her natianl team to the 2010 FIBA World Championship with a stellar EuroBasket Women 2009 performance, winning the MVP trophy

Having followed up her Championship play-off winners medal with the MVP award at EuroBasket Women in Latvia, Maltsi will undoubtedly be the driving force behind the challenge of USK Prague and is also shrewd enough to know that taking one game at a time might well be a cliché but one worth taking notice of.

"I think that we should focus on our own plans and be patient. We have to take the competition very much step by step meaning that we see and face up to each individual contest looking at it on a game by game basis!"

"Our own gold will be simply to finish as high as we can in our Group and then pass to the next round ! Everybody wants to be at Final Four but of course only four teams can make it to the last weekend!"

"I really do wish my team and team-mates a lot of luck and hope everyone enjoys a healthy season because I am excited about EuroLeague Women and I am really looking forward to the start of this tournament!"

Meanwhile USK Prague head coach Lubor Blazek believes his team can use the confidence gleaned from securing the Czech play-off championship earlier this year as a stimulus for the forthcoming EuroLeague Women campaign and like Maltsi, is confident of making progress from last year.

He explained "The coming season has a new flavour for us as we are entering it as a champion of Czech Republic. Therefore, our first aim is to defend this victory in Czech national league."

"I am sure that we managed to put together a high-quality team that will be able to show its best achievements."

"We would like to proceed as far as possible in EuroLeague Women as well." added Blazek.

"We are hoping to take a step forward and I believe we will be able to advance from the qualifying group and do our best to achieve further continuation."

USK Prague will open their EuroLeague Women campaign with a tough looking trip to France where they will play Bourges Basket.