It is not usual to play a game that can be crucial – but not decisive – for the future of the season before Christmas, and it is usually an indicator that things are not working quite well. In this situation, Básquet Girona arrives at this afternoon’s match against Zaragoza after stringing together five consecutive defeats and showing a very worrying image seven days ago in Valencia
The match against the Aragonese is the first of two consecutive tests against direct rivals that await the team from Girona, who will end the year by visiting BAXI Manresa the day before the bells. Winning both games would mean facing 2023 with a different spirit and losing by two games would leave the team in a borderline situation. Winning one would be a lesser evil but it wouldn’t improve the picture much.
Aíto’s players will have to play smarter and be stronger mentally than in recent games. Against Breogán, they were unable to manage a 7-point lead in the last quarter and, in addition, they failed to score a basket in the final minutes even though the Galicians were in the bonus. And against Valencia the Girona inexplicably deflated in the second half without even taking away their pride, repeating the disaster of 15 days earlier in Vitoria.
Despite everything, regarding today’s duel, Basketball Girona can be commended for the fight – but without luck – that it has shown in front of its fans and the fact that it has reached the last five minutes of the games with options for victory. But when the moment of truth has come, when good decisions must be made and mistakes minimized, the team has transmitted a block of ideas, physical and mental, which has doomed it to a bad overtime against the Gran Canaria and some disastrous last measures in attack against Breogán.
Today the team, still without Garino, will have to show mental strength and the ability to react to the complicated moments that come before a Zaragoza team that arrives with just one more triumph but with very different sensations. After starting the league with an adverse 0 to 6 and as an outstanding coach, the Aragonese team has recovered thanks to the arrival of Porfi Fisac, who left many good records in the city after signing a magnificent 2019- 2020 until the outbreak of the pandemic.
In addition, Zaragoza visit Fontajau with a strengthened squad, after signing Serbian baseman Stefan Jovic, with long experience in Euroleague teams. However, the Balkan international has been inactive for most of the season due to physical problems and it remains to be seen how he can help his team today.
The main references for Porfi Fisac are already in the external line, such as the international with Spain Santi Yusta, or the Americans Justinian Jessup and Chris Wright, which is doubtful. In the interior game, Christian Mekowulu stands out, who is the most valued in the squad.
The Aragonese do not have much more marksmanship than Básquet Girona from the 3-point line – they are fourth in line and Fontajau’s are last. Apart from the external success, the duel can also be marked by the care of the ball, since they are two of the sets that achieve more recoveries but also of those that commit the most turnovers.
