Oberwart Gunners Shift to Hunter Role as Basketball Superliga Season Opens

Head coach Horst Leitner oversaw the transition, which saw several long-serving veterans and previous season’s foreign players depart. Among those leaving the club were Daniel Köppel, who moved to Kapfenberg, Jonathan Knessl, who joined Graz, and Edi Patekar, who signed with Traiskirchen, alongside the foreign contingent that included Nate Pierre-Louis and Ian Martinez.

“The turnaround was a deliberate decision. The players we brought in fit in very well. The youngsters are taking a big step forward and the three veterans who form the core of the team are the same as before. They will be able to lead the team,” Leitner said regarding the squad’s restructuring.

New Faces and Retained Leadership in Oberwart

Alongside team captain Sebastian Käferle, the retained veteran core features Renato Poljak and Florian Köppel. To bolster the lineup, the club added shooting guard Larry Wise, forwards Victor Searls, Maceo Williams, and Nathan Scott, alongside center Victor Searls. In the backcourt, Joe Anderson arrives to share point guard duties and relieve playmaking pressure from Käferle. Meanwhile, younger squad members Nick Weinhandl and brothers Lukas and Matthias Fülöp are expected to gain valuable developmental minutes.

The Gunners will immediately test their new roster against the Gmunden Swans in their opening fixture. The matchup carries added narrative weight for Leitner, who faces newly appointed Gmunden head coach Stefan Grassegger, a longtime personal friend. Despite the shared history off the court, Käferle emphasized that pleasantries will be put aside once the game tips off as the team pursues its ultimate objective.

“I don’t go into any season to finish second, third, or fourth. I want to be first and we will give everything for that,” Käferle said.

Eisenstadt Dragonz Rely on Continuity After a Difficult Campaign

While Oberwart underwent a massive rebuild, the Eisenstadt Dragonz chose continuity. Returning figures such as Sead Hadzifejzovic, Lukas Hahn, and Jakob Szkutta are reinforced by the return of Austen Awosika, a foreign player who previously played for the club during its runner-up season.

The moves aim to reverse the fortunes of a challenging campaign last year, which concluded with just three victories and a second-to-last finish in the standings. Guard Jakob Szkutta noted a marked improvement in the atmosphere and collective capability within the locker room heading into the new fixtures.

“Compared to last year, a very positive step has happened. The team and the talent in the team are very good,” Szkutta said.

Head coach Edgar Nubiola echoed those sentiments, outlining clear competitive benchmarks for the upcoming months. The Dragonz begin their schedule on Saturday with an away fixture against the Klosterneuburg Dukes. “Our goal is clear: We want to get noticed again and make it into the play-offs,” Nubiola said.