PRAGUE (EuroLeague Women 2017) – Some 18 months after that glorious night in the Czech capital when ZVVZ USK Prague were crowned EuroLeague Women 2015 winners, the hard work to make it three Final Fours in a row is in full swing for the ex-champions.

With her vast experience to call upon, head coach Natalia Hejkova has been overseeing her team’s preparations for the new 2016-17 season as she juggles the absence of her WNBA players such as Sonja Petrovic, Marta Xargay and Candice Dupree, combined with the fact that shooting ace Katerina Elhotova is on maternity leave.

Yet even with key absences, ZVVZ USK Prague still look, feel and act like the powerhouse which they are – relying on their fine domestic talent in Alena Hanusova, Karolina Elhotova, as well as the likes of Latvia center Anete Steinberga and returning Rio Olympian and veteran point guard, Laia Palau.

The players who have been available have already put the Czech champs on a sound footing for when they tip-off their latest EuroLeague Women campaign next month.

ZVVZ USK Prague came out on top in a hugely important pre-season tournament in neighbouring Slovak Republic in Lucenc. They rode past Aluinvent Miskolc who they beat 81-63 thanks to 22 points from the in-form Steinberga and also cut down Piestanske Cajky 70-63 as Hanusova poured in 20 points.

It was Palau who shone most across the competition – her world class playmaking abilities a cut above anything else on offer.

Leader on the court in Palau and leader off it in Hejkova - it provides an unrivalled amount of experience in EuroLeague Women this season

"This was a very important tournament because we played against better teams than last time [we were here], as both of our opponents will be playing EuroCup Women this season," reflected Hejkova.

"Every game is getting better and better for us, so we are pleased. We are improving and we are glad that the players are beginning to understand what we want them to do.

"We had three players in the All-Star Five and Laia took MVP."

Meanwhile Steinberga in particular seems to be playing some of the best basketball of her career at the moment and has benefitted from having made the switch to Prague last season.

She seems to be playing more relaxed than ever before and on the verge of fully utilising the huge potential which many feel she has not yet fully exploited.

"The preparatory tournament was very successful and at the beginning of the season, it’s very important to interact with the girls on the court and it is getting to know each other more, it improves both defence and offence," stated Steinberga.

"I am feeling an improvement in every game, so I hope that can continue and we will keep having good team performances."

That injection of confidence from Lucenc has proven a launch-pad for a flying start to their domestic title defence, as Steinberga amassed another 19 points for her team as they collected a rampant 92-51 success against Trutnov on the opening night of the ZBL.

Additionally, with a plethora of stars still to arrive, domestic dominance looks assured once again, with the bigger question being whether ZVVZ USK Prague can maintain their high standards and incredible results of recent seasons when EuroLeague Women gets back underway on 27 October.

FIBA