Great game in sight that Unicaja has this Sunday. The compositor set will begin the second round of the Endesa League against Valencia Basketball. From sensations and from what has been seen in the first 17 days, everyone can get an idea of each rival. However, it is important that, a priori, no one has in mind the first round match at La Fonteta because any resemblance to what will take place at the Martín Carpena will be purely coincidental.
Álex Mumbrú’s team has undergone a metamorphosis in the last month. Very few people already talk about the presumed “low” level of the squad or whether the Catalan coach is the ideal one to direct this project. With the only return of homegrown point guard Guillem Ferrando and the signing of Shannon Evans -without any impact for the moment on his new team-, the taronja team has taken many steps forward and the conversation only focuses on a very specific topic: Valencia has six consecutive victories between the League and the Euroleague.
It is evident that Unicaja’s rival is going to land at the Martín Carpena in the best moment of the season. Although it must be borne in mind that the next rival compositor has shown two different versions in Europe and in the ACB in the last two weeks: a more heroic attitude in the Old Continent – victories against the two-time champion Anadolu Efes, Asvel Villeurbanne, Zeljko Obradovic’s Partizan and Alba Berlin- and something more earthly in the domestic competition -Manresa and Zaragoza-. Those have been the last six wins with a Valencian stamp.
The foundation on which they are building victories is attack. They average 89.67 points in that range of matches and in none have they been below 81, despite the complexity of the rivals they have faced in Europe. Yes indeed, Unicaja is not far behind either, quite the contrary. Ibon Navarro’s men have scored in the last six games -five wins and one loss- an average of 90.67 points. So everything indicates that whoever imposes his defense will be the winner.
The visitors will have a too busy infirmary against them. The ACB medical report has confirmed the absence of Bojan Dubljevic, in addition to the absence of Jasiel Rivero. It is true that Valencia won without any of them against Alba Berlin. Precisely, Kyle Alexander scored 14 points and captured 4 balls to have a great role in the victory. Let’s see what Ibon Navarro proposes to stop and overcome an inside game that will land in Malaga very touched.
Carpena Factor
From what I’ve seen, I’m sure the spell of Carpena will be more necessary than ever. The compositor team also accumulates six consecutive wins against the “Green Tide” in the Endesa League -Betis, Covirán Granada, Zaragoza, UCAM Murcia, Bilbao Basket and Río Breogán-. Now comes a very tough stage in which Valencia will inaugurate a list in which the “greats” of the ACB will pass through the Costa del Sol.
So it won’t be just another game. It never is against Valencia Basket, but a victory from Malaga could place Unicaja with a margin of four wins, in addition to the average, about a direct rival in the fight to be in the playoff for the title. It will be difficult, although every effort will be worth it to continue fighting to occupy the highest positions in the Endesa League.