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League puts its foot down in dispute over home court

Oberwart's basketball players rejoiced too soon. After surprisingly eliminating Gmunden, they wanted home court in the first semi-final against Traiskirchen. Even though they had only finished seventh in the play-offs. The Superliga regulations were indeed unclear, but on Wednesday their board decided: Traiskirchen can start at home on Saturday!

Since the 2019/20 season, the Superliga's rules have stipulated that the winner of quarter-final B (this year Oberwart v Gmunden) will face the winner of quarter-final C (Traiskirchen v St. Pölten) in the semi-finals. A more than unfortunate formulation. "We will formulate this more clearly for the future," promises league general secretary Albert Handler.

For this year, however, the board had to put its foot down: Traiskirchen, third after the placement round, gets home advantage against Oberwart, which "only" came first in the qualifying round. "Nothing was invented," says Albert Handler, "and the decision was in the spirit of the sport." Otherwise, the 32 previous rounds would have been pretty pointless.

Traiskirchen's managing director Paul Handler is glad that the dispute has been resolved: "Conversely, Oberwart would have insisted on their home court, it is the reward for a good basic round and a good performance in the placement round." Oberwart reserve the right to claim compensation for any financial loss - although it is Traiskirchen who were at a disadvantage due to the pointless skirmish: "We lost three days to advertise our home game."