He Unicaja He has already put an end to the preseason. If we take into account the results of the Super Cup, the boxing team has closed the preparation with a great balance of 6 victories – Granada, Monbus Obradoiro, Benfica, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and UCAM – and only 1 defeat, against the whites in the final held in the Region of Murcia.
However, far from the results, they are vseveral very positive conclusions that Ibon Navarro and the coaching staff can draw. As an example, with three recently arrived internationals, without boxing centers and with the discomfort of Jonathan Barreiro, the team fought until the last two minutes for the Super Cup title.
The internationals, in order
Like every summer, Unicaja has been affected by the departure of the internationals. Alberto Díaz, Kendrick Perry and Melvin Ejim They competed in the World Cup until a few weeks ago and their reintegration into the team, especially that of the Canadian, has been very forced. Now, they have returned just as they left. ANDThe ‘Montenegrino’ point guard left his personal stamp in the final with 17 points and 4 assistsMeanwhile he power forward -with only two training sessions- he did 9 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists against UCAM. The captain, for his part, looked good in defense, but he lacked rhythm in attack. In fact, they will have a break until Thursday when they return to work.
Will Thomas
Will Thomas, perhaps, has been the best news of Unicaja’s preseason. Accustomed throughout his career to going from less to more throughout the campaigns, the performance that the one from Baltimore has already offered has been spectacular. He arrives at the Endesa League in excellent form. If all this is combined with his privileged reading of the game, his ‘little hand’ from his particular side of the zone… Ibon Navarro will have Badalona’s Will almost from the first day. AND playing in Super Cup 55 minutes between the two games!
Tyson Carter
The joys are spread throughout all areas of the field. He was asked from day one, especially after Brizuela’s departure, and he has responded. Unicaja 2023/24 will have a ‘new’ Tyson Carter: a lot more mature in decision making, brave to carry the team on his back in the most important moments and, above all, game director. He can play alone, do it with Perry as a guard or as a handler alongside the Malaga native. If you also take into account his scoring talent, he can be – and will be – one of the names to watch in his second season in ACB.
Kameron Taylor
The Super Cup has been the perfect example of what the former Bàsquet Girona player can offer in Málaga. He needs to loosen up a little in attack, have more confidence in yourself, because it was part of the enormous third quarter that the team starred in against Real Madrid in the Super Cup final. However, He is much more than a scoring prodigy, more than a player whose points fall into his hands.. It is a more than obvious step forward in defense. Muscle to defend very powerful outside teams and leaving a commendable job behind.
Competitiveness intact
The team will be different from last year. It will have other systems at the game level, but If something is not going to change, it is the competitive gene of the squad and the coaching staff.. The green and purple outfit became 14 points down after the break against Madrid. An income that anyone, especially with the problems that the typesetters had, would have given up… anyone except Unicaja. Not only was that difference reduced, but The score became favorable to Ibon Navarro’s team in the last quarter. An unbreakable DNA that will make Martín Carpena and all of Spain fall in love again.
The sixth news? I hope the centers return. For this we will have to wait until Tuesday when the entire team returns to training. Meanwhile, all that remains is to count the hours to enjoy a new season with Unicaja.