Unicaja Alhaurín de la Torre visits Kids&Us Manresa at Pavelló Nou Congost on Friday, January 16, at 16:00 local time (UTC+1) in Liga U action, one day before the clubs meet in the Liga ACB. Mikel Ereño’s squad heads to Catalonia following a victory in their previous outing, looking for their first away win of the season against an Ignacio Juan-coached Manresa side that opened its campaign with a home win over Joventut Badalona before falling to Obradoiro U22.
Pavelló Nou Congost Test Awaits Unicaja Alhaurín de la Torre
The visiting side arrives in Catalonia with momentum after securing their first win of the season, but they face a rigorous test against a Kids&Us Manresa roster that enjoyed a bye week to fine-tune its approach. Ignacio Juan’s squad stands out for an electric offensive tempo centered heavily around perimeter shooting. Manresa averages 32 three-point attempts per game, making long-range accuracy the primary barometer of their success. In their 37-52 victory against Joventut Badalona, they shot 37.5 percent from beyond the arc, though that figure dipped to 25 percent in a subsequent road loss to Obradoiro U22.
Statistical Profiles Point to Rebound Strength and Perimeter Volatility
Beyond their shooting volume, the hosts rank third in the league in total rebounds with an average of 42 per contest, tied with UCAM Murcia Juver. Inside presence Jan Pumarola leads the effort on the glass with 8.5 rebounds per game, placing him eighth overall in individual rebounding averages. Defensively, Manresa protects the rim at a high level, swatting 4.5 shots per match to rank second behind Burgos Grupo de Santiago.
Injuries and roster availability have shaped Manresa’s rotation early on. Lucas Sánchez opened the season with 30 points, 7 assists, and a 37 valuation rating in a win over Joventut, though he missed the loss to Obradoiro. Gerard Fernández debuted with 19 points and 40 percent shooting from deep against Joventut. Guillem Naspler has provided the most consistent output by playing in both fixtures, scoring at least 15 points in each game while adding 4 rebounds and 1.5 steals for an average valuation of 16.5.
Historical Split Sets Stage for Friday Afternoon Clash
Matches between these two programs carry a history of tight margins. At Pavelló Nou Congost, Unicaja erased a 20-point deficit before falling just short in an 85-80 defeat. The return fixture in Málaga followed a similar script, with Unicaja Alhaurín de la Torre executing down the stretch to secure an 88-85 victory.
Friday’s contest begins at 16:00 local time in Manresa and will be broadcast live via the competition’s official YouTube channel.
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