Baskonia wants to take off again in Europe against a Panathinaikos in low hours
Joan Peñarroya’s men will seek to make up for their last defeat against Olimpia Milano, the fifth in six games
MADRID, 2 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Cazoo Baskonia will end this Friday the double weekday of the Regular Phase of the Euroleague 2022-2023 receiving (8:30 pm) at the Fernando Buesa Arena a Greek Panathinaikos in low hours, against which they hope to make up for their last defeat against Olimpia Milano to regain sensations after a bad start to the year.
The Baskonia team, which ended up very in tune in 2022, leading the continental standings for several weeks, is now going through a crisis of play and results that resulted in the Lombard capital last Tuesday in the fifth defeat in the last six European games. Although he threatened to return to the charge after a spectacular match against Anadolu Efes (114-111) last week, the Milan player left a Basque team with negative baggage touched this January.
Even so, Joan Peñarroya’s men (10/12) want to continue to stay in the ‘play-off’ positions, from which they have not left since the first day, and speed up their chances of getting a place in the ‘Top 4’. To do this, those from Vitoria cling to the Buesa Arena where the warmth of their fans has already helped against Efes and usually serves as encouragement for a team that grows at home and hopes to recover the best version of Markus Howard and company.
For their part, Dejan Radonjic’s men (8/14) come into the match after losing in their first continental match of the week against Real Madrid (83-68). The poor image offered by the Greek team at the Wizinc Center keeps the mystery of a team that has accumulated two months without winning away from home, but that surprised a week ago by sweeping Zalgiris (89-65) with an offensive display.
The ‘PAO’, who relies on the talent of his two great stars, Dwayne Bacon and Paris Lee, travels to Vitoria with several notable absences due to injury. The Montenegrin coach will not be able to count on Mateusz Ponitka, Lefteris Mantzoukas and Lefteris Bochoridis, in addition to Matt Thomas and Dimitrios Agravanis, who will still not be able to debut after their signing.
For his part, Peñarroya will have all his players available, including the latest signing, Max Heidegger, who, after making his debut in Milan, will now do so before his fans to make up for the absence of Pierriá Henry, provisionally suspended after an anti-doping control. The people from Vitoria will try to maintain the good run of results in their particular duel against Panathinaikos, who have not won in Vitoria for six seasons.
DATASHEET.
–TEAMS.
CAZOO BASCONY: Howard, Thompson, Giedraitis, Hommes and Kotsar –possible starting quintet–; Costello, Enoch, Marinkovic, Kurucs and Heidegger.
PANATHINAIKOS: Wolters, Bacon, G.Kalaitzakis, Williams y Gudaitis –possible quintet initial– Lee, Grigonis, Papagiannis, P.Kalaitzakis y Avdalas.
–REFEREES: Boltauzer, Hordov and Trawicki
–PAVILION: Fernando Buesa Arena.
–TIME: 20.30/Dazn.