BarcelonaBarça will host Zalgiris, the heart of the Euroleague, this Friday at the Palau Blaugrana (9pm, DAZN). The Catalan team has a handful of names that have a past in Kaunas. Coach Sarunas Jasikevicius is an idol in his hometown, where he finished his career as a player and started on the bench with a record of eight titles and access to a final four. Brandon Davies, Nigel Hayes-Davis and Rokas Jokubaitis also have a past in the Lithuanian set. In addition, Darius Maskoliunas, Tomas Masiulis and Justinas Grainys, three members of the coaching staff, come from Zalgiris.
Faced with the need for alternative leadership due to the injuries of Nick Calathes, Cory Higgins and Alex Abrines, Nico Laprovittola and Rokas Jokubaitis have taken a step forward. In addition, Sertac Sanli hopes to take advantage of the boost of self-esteem that the match against Hereda San Pablo Burgos meant. “In Spain it is always said that these matches are a trap, but it is not like that. It is a very difficult match. We need players who will not be there. Zalgiris has changed coach, recovered players and signed new players. They have made a “They need a complete change of system and they need time. They arrive with a lot of confidence and in good shape,” said Jasikevicius.
Zalgiris, who changed coach with the season already underway, are coached by Juri Zdovc, who as a player matched Jasikevicius at the Ljubljana Olympija. After losing the first nine games of the competition, the Lithuanian team has tied two consecutive victories.
