Valencia Basket seeks to extend its good moment against Partizán
MADRID, 18 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Valencia Basket wants to stay close to the ‘playoff’ zone of the Regular Phase of the Euroleague 2022-2023 with a new victory this Thursday (8:45 p.m.) at La Fonteta against a direct rival like the Serbian Partizán Belgrade, against which it intends to extend his good moment, even without the reinforcement of Shannon Evans.
The ‘taronja’ team and the Balkans are out of the top eight tied for nine victories, one behind eighth, a cut currently set by Turkish Anadolu Efes and to which many teams aspire. Alex Mumbrú’s men want to continue being clear candidates and they know that many of their options go through being strong on their field where they have not managed to be completely regular yet.
The Valencian team has only achieved five wins out of ten possible at home, but the last one, against the current champion, and since it was achieved, with many casualties, gives it morale for a key month where it is also battling for its presence in the Copa del Rey de Badalona, ??which will be played this weekend against Casademont Zaragoza.
Valencia Basket comes excited after closing the demanding double day in last week’s competition with two wins and also beating BAXI Manresa in the Endesa League. Now, against the Serbian team, which they already beat at the Stark Arena 96-100 after extra time, they hope to match, in a match that once again predicts many points, their best winning streak in the Euroleague, the three consecutive ones they have had. between the end of October and the beginning of November.
The best news for Alx Mumbrú is that he has managed to empty the infirmary somewhat and was able to count on Jared Harper and Chris Jones over the weekend, whom he wants to ‘take care of’ anyway. Jasiel Rivero and Víctor Claver are still out along with Sam van Rossom and Martin Hermannsson, but despite this, the coach does not plan, “in principle”, to already have the recently signed Shannon Evans.
For its part, Partizán arrives at La Fonteta in search of adding its first victory against the Valencian team, with whom, in addition to losing in the first round, they also lost in their two duels in the 2018-2019 Eurocup, which were precisely won by the ‘taronja’.
Zeljko Obradovic’s men are in their best moment of the campaign, with five victories in their last six games, although four of them at home, where they are performing better since of their nine outings, they have only won two, against Fenerbahce and against Panathinaikos. Stopping the impact of center Matthias Lessort, author of 22 points and 10 rebounds in the first round, seems key for Alex Mumbrú’s team.
“We are facing a team that is clearly growing, that is playing better and better and adding more players. They have changed a lot defensively, they are much better and more solid, and in attack they have talent and very decisive players. It will surely be a tough and difficult match here at home”, warned the Catalan coach.
VALENCIA BASKET: Ferrando, Prepelic, Puerto, Pradilla and Dubljevic –possible starting five–; Harper, Jones, Webb III, Radebaugh, López-Arostegui, Alexander, De Larrea, and Marí.
PARTIZÁN BELGRADE: Madar, Nunnally, Papapetrou, Leday and Smailaigic –possible starting five–; Exum, Punter, Lessort, Andjusic, Trifunovic, Avramovic and Vukcevic.
–REFEREES: Radovic, Bissang and Rossi.
— PAVILION: La Fonteta.