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Duel of emergencies in La Fonteta

For sure, before the start of the season, Básquet Girona and Valencia did not expect to be in the current classification situation after the first 10 days. With very different objectives, the two sets had more or less sufficient reasons to be optimistic and imagine a final stretch of the year with less urgency.

But the reality today is that they are immersed in a very negative dynamic that, if they break, could bring them fatal consequences later on. What is certain is that today only one of these two teams will have lunch more relieved, while the other will move a little further away from their goal. Although the need to add is shared, the consequences of defeat can be very different for the two sets.

For Básquet Girona, anything that gives a good image and competes to the end can be considered positive news, since the difference in talent with the Valencia squad is obvious. With relegation so close, any victory can be a great injection of morale for the Aíto side and winning on the court of a Euroleague team always gives a special prestige, but it will be of no use if it is not strengthened afterwards by beating the rivals direct for permanence.

Tomorrow’s is a game that, while still being important for Girona, can be considered the least dramatic of the next three that will be contested. Losing at La Fonteta would not be much less of a catastrophe if the team does not allow itself to be dragged down like in Vitoria, but it would make the duels against Zaragoza and Manresa even more decisive before saying goodbye to the year, companions of Girona in the quartet of teams with two wins.

Today, it will hardly be possible to compete if the percentages of the 3-point line are not improved, the great Achilles heel of the Girona Basketball season. Between the last three stumbles, Fontajau’s do not even reach 20% in triples (14/71), either because of bad decisions generated by anxiety or simply because of poor aim.

The management of the ends to face or cross is also another aspect to improve so that the team gains confidence. The defeats against Gran Canaria and Breogán left a very bitter aftertaste after rowing much of the match to reach the last seconds in a favorable situation.

Last week’s positive note was Roko Prkacin’s big game. The young Croatian was an accessible scoring route for Girona amid confusion and a rather chaotic attack in many moments of the game. Like Prkacin, Maxi Fjellerup is also not being enough. The Argentine’s individual talent is a lifesaver at many times but is also denied from beyond 6.75. Who will not be present is his compatriot, Patricio Garino, who is still suffering from physical problems.

Qualifying for the Copa del Rey in Valencia is at stake

In front, Girona will have a Valencia that will surely arrive with even more urgency, both in terms of play and results. Those from the capital of Túria, who are playing in the top European competition again this year, continue to not find a minimum of regularity after seasons that have been rather lackluster, and must win almost all of the remaining games from the first round of the ACB to be at the Copa del Rey de Badalona, ​​a competition they have played in the last ten years.

The Valencians have a negative record of 9 wins and 13 losses between the Endesa League and Eurolliga, and in domestic competition they have only won one game. Although the numbers are very negative, it cannot be underestimated that they have won on the court of the reigning European champion, Anadolu Efes, or on that of the fourth-ranked, Olympiacos.

The Fonteta team, as is usual in recent years, is experiencing a plague of injuries that particularly affects the base position. The coach, Àlex Mumbrú, cannot count on Sam Van Rossom, Martin Hermansson and Chris Jones, who is his main offensive argument. In the interior game, the great reference is the Cuban Jasiel Rivero, and the veteran and almost flagship player of the club, Bojan Dubjlevic.

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