Having been considered as one of the favorites of the group, Spirou Basket is going to compete against Fribourg Olympic from Switzerland, MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg from Germany and Anwil Włocławek from Poland.
Anwil Włocławek won the FIBA Europe Cup trophy in the 2022/2023 season and is thought to be the most serious opponent at this stage.
The Rottweilers from Włocławek had a 4-2 result in their group at the regular season stage, being beaten by Italian Sassari twice, while winning against Sporting CP and BC Dnipro. Eventually, Anwil got promoted to the second round as their point scoring balance was one of the best among the teams from the second spots from all groups.
Playing up-tempo basketball, Anwil Włocławek’s roster is full of interesting players including one especially well-known for Belgian fans. Karol Gruszecki, currently with more like a veteran status on the team of the Rottweilers, had played in Belgium in the past. It was the 2013/2014 season when Gruszecki decided to come back to Europe after his adventure in the USA. Polish forward had spent two years playing for North Platte Community College in the NJCAA program and later moved to University of Texas at Arlington in the NCAA Division 1.
Representing Spirou, Gruszecki noted 28 games in total - 10 in the EuroCup and 18 in the domestic league. After averaging 3.6 points per game, in March the club gave him a green light to be loaned to Polish Czarni Słupsk. And he never returned to Belgium. Today, he’s more like a rotation player, while other names are playing bigger roles. Using his experience, Gruszecki is giving his spark off the bench and certain three point shot skills.
Anwil’s clutch players seem to be: American Justin Turner (13.7 ppg. and 3.7 apg.), American-born with Polish passport Luke Petrasek (12 ppg. and 4 rpg.) and Nick Ongenda (11.8 ppg. and 4.8 rpg.) But Anwil’s rotation is much wider, including Michal Michalak, Ryan Taylor and D.J. Funderburk.
Visit Włocławek
This is about basketball, but what about the city of Włocławek and its cultural and historic background?
Włocławek is a town in central Poland, located on the Vistula River. It is one of the oldest cities in Poland and is also the historical capital of Kujawy (Kujavia region). Statistics show that Włocławek is inhabited by a little over 100,000 people, but when it comes to the whole municipality, it can be around 130,000 people. Companies operating in chemical, food, metal, construction and power industries are thriving in Włocławek. But it is not what attract the most.
Despite the fact the city is rather small, it offers a plenty of advantages and possibilities of spending some quality free time when it comes to history and culture - from ancient churches to modern museums, there's something for everyone to enjoy. And don't forget to indulge in the tasty local food and drink.
You can visit the Cathedral Basilica, a stunning 14th-century Gothic church. You can learn about the city's history at the Museum of Włocławek, showcasing exhibits on art, archaeology, and ethnography. After that pleasant activity, you can get more of walking along the Vistula River, simultaneously admiring the picturesque views of the city. Hungry? Enjoy traditional Polish cuisine at some fancy restaurants - the city is the core of Polish traditional pierogi (dumplings with meat) or czernina (duck blood soup), served sour or sweet.
