Champions League Men | 27 Jun 2014

Orenburg and Pontoise neverending duel

The draw of 2014/15 Men’s European Champions League was held in Vienna. Last finalists will meet in Group A in upcoming autumn: reigning MECL champion AS Pontoise Cergy against Fakel Gazproma Orenburg. Other two clubs in that group are newcomer from Polan

The draw of 2014/15 Men’s European Champions League was held in Vienna. Last finalists will meet in Group A in upcoming autumn: reigning MECL champion AS Pontoise Cergy against Fakel Gazproma Orenburg. Other two clubs in that group are newcomer from Poland, Olimpia-Unia Grudziadz, and Danish Roskilde Bordtennis BTK61 which is coming back in the action. Despite recent defeat from Pontoise in the clash for the 2013/14 title, the two times MECL winner in last three seasons Orenburg is considered again as top favorite, starting as no. 1 seed.

Group B consists of four clubs which participated in previous edition: Chartres ASTT, SV Werder Bremen, Weinviertel Niederösterreich and Eslövs AI BTK Bordtennis. French champion Chartres continues with the same line-up GAO Ning, Robert GARDOS, Par GERELL, having a goal to achieve one more final (they were beaten by Orenburg in super dramatic 2012/13 final). „The Greens” from Germany, with one big change (STEGER instead CHUANG) tries to go far than in last season (quarter-final), but the 2008 MECL champion Weinviertel Niederösterreich will be hard opponent.

Group C provides a remake of excellent 2011/12 MECL semis, connecting again UMMC and Saarbrucken. Both clubs changed their squads from that time, but the good fight is guaranteed. French Vaillante Angers TT hopes that it can repeat success from 2013/14 (semi-final), while newcomer and 15th seed from Czech Republic, Sten marketing HB Ostrov will try to be one of surprises.

Group D offers long time rivalries, knowing how many times Borussia (no. 2 seed), Bogoria (9) and Hennebont (7) played one against another. Two seasons ago Polish champion was fatal for German side. Timo BOLL & Company is motivated to delete bad memories from last two seasons (especially last one). Former Anger`s player Greek Panagiotis GIONIS hopes that he can keep high number of wins that Patrick BAUM had in the past in Borussia`s jersey.

The 2014/15 Men`s European Champions League groups

GROUP A

Fakel Gazproma Orenburg (Russia, 1st seed)

AS Pontoise Cergy TT (France, 6)

Olimpia-Unia Grudziadz (Poland, 12)

Roskilde Bordtennis BTK61 (Denmark, 13)

GROUP B

Chartres ASTT (France, 4)

SV Werder Bremen (Germany, 8)

Weinviertel Niederösterreich (Austria, 11)

Eslövs AI BTK Bordtennis (Sweden, 14)

GROUP C

UMMC Verkhnaya Pyshma (Russia, 3)

Saarbrücken TT (Germany, 5)

Vaillante Angers TT (France, 10)

Sten marketing HB Ostrov (Czech Republic, 15)

GROUP D

Borussia Düsseldorf (Germany, 2)

GV Hennebont TT (France, 7)

Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki (Poland, 9)

SPG Walter Wels (Austria, 16)









Alex MILETIC, EWT, Alex MILETIC, EWT

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