Girona, Spain — With two key interior players sidelined by injury, Bàsquet Girona has turned to an unexpected source for reinforcement: Mikhail Mikhailov, the Spanish-born pivot of SolGironès Bisbal, who began training with the Liga ACB club last week and will continue doing so this week.
The move comes as a direct response to the absences of Juan Fernández and Nikola Maric, both nursing significant injuries that have left Girona thin in the paint. Fernández, the team’s starting center, suffered a grade 2 ankle sprain during a December 10th loss to Valencia Basket, an injury expected to keep him out for 4–6 weeks. Maric, a versatile forward capable of playing both the 3 and 4 spots, sustained a partial tear in his right medial collateral ligament during training on December 18th, ruling him out for approximately eight weeks.
Faced with a sudden depletion of frontcourt depth, Girona’s sporting department activated an emergency protocol, reaching out to Bisbal — a fellow Catalan club competing in Segunda FEB, Spain’s third tier — to arrange a temporary training arrangement. The agreement allows Mikhailov to join Girona’s sessions without formal registration, maintaining his eligibility with Bisbal while providing the ACB side with additional bodies for drills and scrimmages.
“It’s not a signing, nor is it a loan,” said a Girona spokesperson who requested anonymity due to the informal nature of the arrangement. “It’s a practical solution to a short-term problem. Mikhail is training with us to stay sharp and help us maintain intensity in practice while we wait for our injured players to return. There’s no financial transaction, no contract — just cooperation between two clubs in the same region.”
Mikhailov, 25, is no stranger to high-level basketball environments. Born in Moscow to Mikhail Mikhailov Sr., a former Russian international who played professionally in the 1990s, the younger Mikhailov moved to Spain at age 10 and grew up in the Balearic Islands. He developed through the youth academies of Real Madrid and Estudiantes before accepting a scholarship to play NCAA Division II basketball at the University of California, Irvine, where he averaged 8.4 points and 5.1 rebounds per game over two seasons.
After returning to Spain in the summer of 2023, Mikhailov signed with SolGironès Bisbal, quickly becoming one of the standout performers under head coach Èric Surís. In 18 Liga EBA games this season (the fourth tier, where Bisbal competes after a administrative relegation from Segunda FEB), he is averaging 14.2 points, 9.7 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game, shooting 58% from the field. His size — listed at 6’10” (208 cm) with a 7’2” wingspan — and soft touch around the basket have made him a difficult matchup for opposing big men.
“Mikhail has the physical tools and the perform ethic to compete at a higher level,” said Surís in a December 20th interview with Diari de Girona. “He’s been our most consistent interior presence this year. If Girona wants to look at him, that’s a testament to his development. We’re happy to support whatever helps him grow, as long as it doesn’t interfere with his commitments to us.”
The timing of the arrangement is particularly notable given Girona’s upcoming schedule. The team faces a critical stretch of games that could determine their playoff positioning in Liga ACB. After a 78–72 home win over Baxi Manresa on December 21st, Girona (8–8) sits in 12th place, just one game outside the top eight that qualifies for the postseason.
Their next five games include matches against direct playoff contenders: Joventut Badalona (away, Dec. 28), Valencia Basket (home, Dec. 31), Barça (away, Jan. 4), Baskonia (home, Jan. 7), and Lenovo Tenerife (away, Jan. 11). With Fernández and Maric unavailable, Girona has relied heavily on veteran center Willy Hernangómez — who returned to the team in November after a brief stint in the NBA G League — and rookie forward Izan Almansa to carry the interior load.
Hernangómez, 29, has averaged 12.3 points and 8.1 rebounds in his first six games back with Girona, but playing extended minutes night after night raises concerns about fatigue and injury risk. Almansa, 19, has shown flashes of promise but is still adjusting to the physicality of the ACB, averaging just 4.2 points and 2.9 rebounds in limited minutes.
“Having Mikhail around in practice gives us more options to simulate game scenarios,” said Girona head coach Jaume Ponsarnau, speaking after Tuesday’s session. “People can run more pick-and-roll variations, test different defensive rotations, and keep the intensity high without overloading our available bigs. It’s not about replacing Juan or Niko — it’s about being smart during a tough stretch.”
The arrangement highlights the interconnected nature of basketball Catalonia, where clubs at different levels often collaborate informally to support player development and address short-term needs. Similar partnerships have occurred in the past, such as when CB Prat lent players to Girona during injury crises in 2019 and 2021, or when Basquet Manresa worked with Bàsquet Sant Antoni on conditioning camps.
For Mikhailov, the opportunity to train with an ACB team represents a significant step in his progression. While he remains under contract with Bisbal through the end of the 2024–25 season, exposure to Girona’s staff, facilities, and level of competition could accelerate his readiness for a potential higher-tier opportunity — whether in Liga LEB Oro (Spain’s second division) or even a return to Liga ACB down the line.
“Every day I step onto that court with Girona, I learn something novel,” Mikhailov said in a brief exchange following Thursday’s practice. “The pace, the precision, the way they communicate — it’s a different level. I’m grateful for the chance to be here, to push myself, and to provide back however I can. My focus is still on helping Bisbal win games, but I won’t say no to learning from the best.”
As of Friday morning, neither Juan Fernández nor Nikola Maric has been cleared to return to full team activities. Fernández is expected to begin on-court rehabilitation next week, with a tentative return date set for mid-January. Maric’s timeline remains less certain, as ligament healing requires careful monitoring to avoid setbacks.
Until then, Girona will continue to rely on its adjusted rotation — and the occasional presence of a familiar face from down the road in Bisbal — to navigate one of the most challenging stretches of their season.
The next confirmed checkpoint for Bàsquet Girona is their Liga ACB match against Joventut Badalona on Saturday, December 28th at 8:30 PM CET (7:30 PM GMT) at the Palau Olímpic in Badalona. Fans can follow live updates via the club’s official website and social media channels.
What do you think of Girona’s decision to bring in Mikhailov for training? Should more ACB clubs explore similar partnerships with lower-tier teams? Share your thoughts in the comments below and spread the conversation on social media.
