Valencia Basket seeks the noble zone against Partizan
Álex Mumbrú's men will fight in La Fonteta for their sixth consecutive victory among all competitions
MADRID, 18 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Valencia Basket seeks this Tuesday in La Fonteta (9:00 p.m./Movistar Plus+) to access the 'Top 6' of the Regular Phase of the Euroleague with a fourth consecutive victory in the continental competition against Partizan del Belgrade, who will try to establish themselves in the high positions in the classification.
Since last December 6, against Estrella Roja (85-81), they broke a streak of eight defeats in ten games, the 'taronja' team has taken a breath and has been revitalized with five consecutive wins in all competitions, three of them in the top European competition.
After winning Friday's duel against Olympiacos (56-63), Álex Mumbrú's men also beat MoraBanc Andorra (86-82) to confirm their recovery. Now, in the fifteenth day of the Regular Phase of the Euroleague, they will seek to extend their good streak before hosting Virtus Bologna on Thursday.
Valencians -seventh- and Serbs -fourth- meet in the capital of Turia with the same balance (8-6) and with similar streaks. A victory against Zeljo Obradovic's men would guarantee them a place in the select 'Top 6', which provides direct access to the quarter-finals without the need for 'Play-In'.
To do this, they will try to deal with the losses of the Americans Jared Harper and Semi Ojeleye and will cling to their defensive strength, after being the team that has conceded the fewest points this campaign and supported by a key figure such as the Icelandic point guard Martin Hermannsson.
Up front they will find the second best attack in the competition, as demonstrated by their 87.6 points per game, all driven by the return of North American guard Kevin Punter, who has averaged 22 points and 3.3 triples in the last three games.
Strong in their fiefdom, where they have achieved six of their eight wins so far, the Serbs already took another step away from home by beating Zalgiris Kaunas at home last day (85-93). Point guard Aleksa Avramovic, American center Frank Kaminsky and power forward Alen Smailagic will miss the event due to injury.
DATASHEET.
–EQUIPMENT.
VALENCIA BASKET: Jones, Jovic, Puerto, Inglis and Davies –possible starting five-; Reuvers, Pradilla, Claver, Toure, Robertson, Ferrando and Hermannsson.
PARTIZÁN: Jaramaz, Nunnally, Punter, Caboclo and Leday –possible starting quintet–; Koprivica, Vukcevic, Smailagic, Andjusic, Dozier Jr. and Ponitka.
–REFEREES: Rocha, Pastusiak and Lezcano.
–PAVILLION: San Luis Fountain.
–TIME: 9:00 p.m./Movistar Plus+.