Valencia, to become stronger against the new Zalgiris
BARCELONA, 8 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Valencia Basket receives Zalgiris Kaunas this Tuesday at La Fonteta (8:30 p.m.), on matchday 20 of the Regular Phase of the Euroleague, with the idea of becoming stronger at home, after the last setback, and putting obstacles in the way of the new project of the Lithuanians with the Italian Andrea Trinchieri on the bench.
The 'taronja' want to be, at the very least, in the 'Play-In' for access to the 'Playoffs' and this means staying, at least, in the tenth place they occupy right now, with Baskonia pushing with the same 10 victories as Álex Mumbrú's team have before receiving Zalgiris, second to last with 6 wins.
The defeat on January 5 against Panathinaikos (81-82) hurt, on the eve of Three Kings Day and in front of the fans. However, the best way to remedy this is to win now against a Zalgiris team that, despite the change of coach, continues to be irregular and who are looking forward to it due to the three consecutive defeats at home.
“It's going to be a very tough game, Zalgiris is a team that was playing very good basketball and after the change of coach they continue to play well. Now they are running much more, they are playing perhaps harder. They have won a game in their domestic league but they have been able to leave players out to be able to prepare well for our game and recover,” Mumbrú commented in the preview.
To leave behind the bad feeling of what they experienced against PAO, with a last quarter in which the Greeks lifted the victory from the locals, and also forget the defeat in the Endesa League against Dreamland Gran Canaria, Valencia Basket needs to win and thus being able to create a turning point from which to grow.
The only casualties will be those of Víctor Claver and Martin Hermannsson, who has his card deactivated in European competition. The rest of the players are at the coach's disposal, including Semi Ojeleye and Chris Jones, who are the Taronja's top scorers from the paint and outside so far in the Euroleague.
Opposite is a renewed Zalgiris, but with ups and downs despite the improvement that Mumbrú warns about. Furthermore, the last three visits of the Lithuanians to Valencia ended with victory, and in La Fonteta there is a desire, and a lot, to put an end to that good streak of the greens in the capital of Turia.
The arrival of Sumner, with a temporary contract for Austin Hollins and with the only loss of Arnas Butkevicius, reinforces this Zalgiris of Andrea Trinchieri, who already won a duel last week (double date) and who, although without him, was beaten by Valencia Basket in the first round (72-87), with 16 points from Chris Jones and 13 from Jared Harper. The best of references for Valencia Basket.
DATASHEET.
–EQUIPMENT.
VALENCIA BASKET: Jones, Robertson, Ojeleye, Reuvers and Inglis –possible starting five–; Harper, Puerto, Pradilla, Anderson, López-Arostegui, Jovic and Davies.
ZALGIRIS KAUNAS: Evans, Sumner, Ulanovas, Lavrinovicius y Birutis –possible quintet initial–; Lekavicius, Hayes, Giedraitis, Smits, Hollins, Dimsa y Manek.
— ARBITRATORS: Mogulkoc, Foufis y Kardum.
–PAVILLION: Fuente de San Luis Pavilion.
–TIME: 20.30/Movistar+.