Swisslion Takovo ? Mega Hypo Leasing (Game 2 preview)

Only one place in the semifinals of the Eurohold Balkan League is left to be decided and it will happen tonight at 20.00 CET in Vrsac. That is when and where Serbian League leaders and BIBL favourites Swisslion Takovo play host to compatriots Mega Hypo Leasing, who are carrying a tricky 11-point adavantage. It`s actually most tricky for the Lions, as they are still odds-on to qualify for the Final Four, but with that kind of a deficit will have some work to do tonight. If they lose their concentration for even a short period of time, it could prove fatal for them and we could have a sensational Final Four participant - Mega Hypo Leasing.
 
The 81-70 result in the first leg on Friday was actually only the Lions`s second defeat in the BIBL, as they finished the regular season top of Group A - with a brilliant 7-1 record. They are also the runaway leaders and already certain winners of the Basketball League of Serbia first phase and in the second will play in the Top 8 section (the Superleague). In that domestic league they won their first game versus tonight`s opponent (in October 2008) by a huge 42-point margin - 89-47 in Vrsac, while the second one (in January 2009) was much tighter - 61-69 in Belgrade.
 
Besides their fine performances in those last two games versus the Lions (the ones in January and last Friday), Mega HL have also their recent form as a proof of them being in with a chance tonight. They`ve had 3 wins in a row in the Serbian League, plus that BIBL quarterfinal first leg victory in between them. The last of the domestic wins was a home thrashing of Zdravlje Leskovac on Sunday, by 111-90.
 
The Lions also hold a three-game domestic league winning streak. But for them it is more of a negative statement to say that, as their last defeat, less than a month ago versus Metalac at home, was only their 3rd loss of the season in Serbia. It also proves they can be vulnerable in their own gym in Vrsac, if they are not careful. As for most recent form, it`s really good for the Lions too: on Sunday they defeated another BIBL team (although not a Final Four qualifier) - Radnicki 034 Group - by 67-74 in Kragujevac.
 
One thing is for sure - the young Mega Hypo Leasing players will have to perform at their very best to have any chance of holding on for a Final Four slot. They will also hope Swisslion Takovo have a really poor night. Whoever advances to the Final Four is set to play Bulgarian team Rilski Sportist in the semi.