Weekly preview: We are ready for the new season

We are now ready to start the new season. This week EUROHOLD Balkan League will open up its 7th edition with four games from which we expect to set up a good way in the beginning.

The Opening game is in Samokov where the returning Rilski Sportist will meet the debutant Sutjeska in group A. We expect interesting things from both teams with the hosts coming in this match with confidence after a strong pre-season. Ian Chiles and Vernon Taylor showed very good form and need to carry it on as the experienced Yordan Bozov and Zlatin Georgiev also should play important roles. Sutjeska is one very good young team having also a bit more experienced players like Nemanja Vranjes and Nemanja Arsic. They should be the leaders and will try to help their teammates in this debut.

In the same time in group B Sigal Prishtina will host KS Vllaznia. Here we have one of the best teams from last season against the debutants from Albania. Sigal has renewed roster but once again the leader will be Dardan Berisha. The team will count a lot on its deadly shooting and on the experience of Edin Bavcic and Aaron McGhee. On the other side we have a lot of unknows as Vllaznia will need to prove it can perform well. The visitors will rely on Mirza Sarajlija who has played in the league and anoter two foreigners while the locals lack international experience.

On Wednesday we have two more games we should check again with a lot of interest. KK Kozuv will host KK Mornar as both teams will look to start with a win. The hosts need to bounce back from the defeat at the beginning of the local league and needs to clear its face in front of the fans. The team made a lot of changes from last season and in this one the board will surely like a better performance in the competition. KK Mornar is returning to BIBL after one year absence. The team from Bar has three Americans and Ivan Jelenic is back as well. Here we have also the youngster Milija Mikovic so Mornar will go out to try and take the victory in Gevgelija.

The last game is in Peja where the local team hosts Kumanovo 2009. Both teams have made changes to their rosters since last season and we still need to know more about them. The hosts will count on crowd favourite Samir Saptahovic and important signing is Hrvoje Puljko. For Kumanovo we have Vukasin Mandic and Aleksandar Kostoski is back after one year in MZT. The visitors should also expect good performance by Sasa Avramovic and will try to leave with the win.