Baskonia seeks to make up for its defeat against the champion
The Basque team faces a visit to Alba Berlin that has historically been difficult for them
MADRID, 11 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Baskonia visits Alba Berlin this Thursday at the Mercedes-Benz Arena (8:00 p.m.) on the second day of the Regular Phase of the 2023/2024 Euroleague, in which the Vitorian team seeks to make up for its initial defeat at the Fernando Buesa Arena against Real Madrid.
The Baskonista team did not start its journey well in the highest continental competition, falling narrowly (77-79) in its pavilion against the current European champion, so now it will try to recover that defeat at home in its first game as a visitor.
However, that facet was the Achilles heel of Joan Peñarroya’s team last season, as they were only able to win in four of their outings, something that completely undermined their chances of playing in the ‘Playoffs’. Improving outside will be key so that they can sneak into the top six, which this year qualify directly without going through the ‘Play-in’.
“New team, new season. Winning away from home is very difficult. In the Endesa League I think the numbers away from home last season were tremendous, but it seems that we only look at the negative side of the Euroleague,” Peñarroya noted in the preview of the clash. in relation to the drop in home performance of his team in the highest continental competition.
For now, Baskonia quickly forgot the defeat against Real Madrid with a victory away from Vitoria in the domestic tournament against Coviran Granada by 81-90, in a match where the figure of the Nigerian power forward Chima Moneke, author of 26 points, and whose performance is key to helping Marcus Howard.
The first European test at home for the Vitorian team will not be in a simple scenario. And although Alba Berlin does not theoretically present itself as one of the rivals with the greatest potential in this Euroleague, it tends to become stronger and more competitive at the Mercedes-Benz Arena.
In fact, Baskonia has historically found it difficult to play in this location where they have lost four of their six European visits, including the last one 85-84, while their two wins were by a very tight margin.
The team coached by the Spanish Israel González, who has lost one of its best players like Maodo Lo, is not coming into this match at a good time. In their debut in the Euroleague they lost to Bayern Munich 80-68 and last weekend they also failed to win at Ulm (100-88). In addition, there are important casualties such as those of Eriksson, Wetzell and Koumadje, which leaves more weight on Johannes Thiemann, a member of the German team that was proclaimed world champion last month.
DATASHEET.
–EQUIPMENT.
ALBA BERLIN: Samar, Thomas, Brown, Olinde and Thiemann –possible starting quintet–; Bean, Delow, Mattisseck, Nikic and Sapgnolo.
BASKONIA: Howard, Miller-Mcintyre, Diez, Moneke and Diop –possible starting quintet–; Costello, Kotsar, Rogavopoulos, Mannion, Marinkovic, Raieste and Sedekerskis.
–REFEREES: Rocha, Koljensic and Trawicki.
–PAVILLION: Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin.
–TIME: 20.00/Movistar+.