Valencia Basket cannot fail in Berlin
MADRID, 31 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Valencia Basket will face an important match this Thursday for its aspirations to fight for the 'Playoff' zone of the Regular Phase of the Euroleague 2023-2024 when it visits (8:00 p.m.) the German ALBA Berlin, penultimate classified and whom it needs to defeat to not give up on the fight for the 'Top 6'.
The 'Taronja' team is making its third consecutive start with the aim of regaining a positive balance after falling clearly this Tuesday in its visit to another rival that was behind in the standings, such as the Serbian Red Star (82-64). and get 12-12 and closing the 'Play-In' zone.
Alex Mumbrú's men could not perform at the same level as at the Fernando Buesa Arena last week, hampered mainly, in addition to the absence of a pillar like Brandon Davies, by their lack of aim from the triple (3/22) and a less defensive capacity than usual to stop the success of their rival, aspects to improve to return to the path of victory in Berlin before a tough stretch of the calendar that will surely define their ambitions.
Without looking any further, Valencia Basket, which will continue without Davies, in addition to Boubacar Touré and the doubt of Stefan Jovic, must almost get a forced victory at the Mercedes-Benz Arena against the penultimate classified of this Regular Phase. ALBA has only achieved five wins although four of them have been under the warmth of its fans, when the team coached by the Spanish Israel González performs best, which at home has been able to beat important rivals such as Barça, Armani Milan or Red Star himself, his last visitor.
The Berlin team comes to this duel after clearly losing in the Pavilion of Peace and Friendship against Olympiacos (101-87) and despite its poor qualifying situation, it is one of those with the best offensive rebounds (11.3 per game) and who steals the most (7). At an individual level, the losses of its best man, the world champion Johannes Thiemann, Louis Olinde and Ziga Samar diminish a team where a 'taronja' player resides until very recently such as the Icelandic point guard Martin Hermannsson, in addition to Matt Thomas, who also passed through the Valencian team.
DATASHEET.
–EQUIPMENT.
DAWN BERLIN: Spagnolo, Thomas, Sterling, Bean and Wetzell — possible starting quintet– Hermannsson, Delow, Procida, Mattisseck, Schneider, Nikic and Koumadje.
VALENCIA BASKET: Jones, Puerto, Ojeleye, Reuvers and Inglis –possible starting five–; Harper, Pradilla, Anderson, Robertson, López-Arostegui, Claver and Pangos.
–REFEREES: Paternico, Difallah and Bissell.
–PAVILLION: Mercedes-Benz Arena.
–TIME: 20.00/Movistar+.