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Aito Garcia Reneses, Head Coach
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Coach, tell us about your team's roster for the next Euroleague season, what changes you made and what improvements you expect to gain from those decisions?
"In general terms, we decided to keep most of the players from last season. It is better to know most of the core players already than making 18,000 roster changes. The fact that most of the players know each other can help us in the long run, too. We made minimum but important changes, like bringing in Thomas Kelati and Omar Cook. Of course, we knew that Daniel Santiago was not coming back, so we replaced him with Robert Archibald. On the other hand, we wanted to get our playing style going but found a major inconvenience once Berni Rodriguez got injured for several months. He has been in the national team with me and knows what I want from the team, just as Carlos Jimenez. He would have helped a lot in the beginning of the season, but unfortunately he is sidelined. We will try to make the most of our potential and become the best team we can, with a new playing style, as soon as possible."
How much can you learn from the preseason about your team? What signs do you look for now that will help when the Euroleague starts?
"It is tough to say it at this point, because there are thing you have been working at a very good level, with great potential. Even with that, I tend to stress those things we are missing, of course, and we can improve in many ways. This is just pre-season, the Spanish League starts this weekend and this is where I hope we will start showing our own potential."
Now that all the other teams have mostly completed their rosters, how does the competition in the Euroleague this season look like to you?
"I think that the Euroleague improved its competition system, as the regular season is not as long as it was last season. It gives you the same chances to qualify for the Top 16, but with less games. Sometimes it was too long for a short, six-game, Top 16. With four groups, everything looks more accurate. Our calendar used to be for such a long regular season combined with the Spanish League games. It was difficult to play well in both competitions. I have to be honest, I haven't looked around much at other teams' rosters, because I have enough work to do here. I haven't thought about other teams, but I will have plenty of time to study them. Those teams that have been good in recent seasons will be up there, of course. There are Greek, Spanish and Russian teams that had outstanding signings, but I am not really worried about it right now."
What are your goals going into the new Euroleague season?
"The main goal right now is to survive the regular season. If we make it to the Top 16, we have to try to improve as much as we can. The Euroleague keeps getting stronger and I think we depend on ourselves to go past the regular season and reach as high as we can. It depends not only on what we are able to build together, but on what the other teams are able to do, too. We have to go step by step, see if we can reach the Top 16, improve in that round and if we achieve that all, see how high we can reach."
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 It’s the start of a new era for Unicaja with legendary head coach Aito Garcia Reneses now on the sidelines. Unicaja took part in the 2007 Final Four, but failed to reach the Quarterfinal Playoffs last season. However the team retooled over the summer by keeping its core of players while adding some interesting pieces to the mix. Homegrown talents Carlos Cabezas, Berni Rodriguez and German Gabriel remain in Malaga along with athletic forward Marcus Haislip, swingman Jiri Welsch, do-it-all veteran Carlos Jimenez and defensive center Boniface Ndong. Unicaja completed its roster with playmaker Omar Cook, small forward Thomas Kelati and center Robert Archibald, who has worked with coach Garcia Reneses in the past. Under Aito, it is safe to expect Unicaja to play the run-and-gun, intense basketball that DKV Joventut played in recent years. If that happens, Unicaja may challenge for a Final Four spot while pleasing everyone in Malaga with its fun-to-watch game.
| Name |
Pos.
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Height
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| Marcus Haislip |
F
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2.07
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| Boniface Ndong |
C
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2.13
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| Berni Rodriguez |
G
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1.97
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| Carlos Cabezas |
G
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1.86
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| Carlos Jimenez |
F
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2.01
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| Robert Archibald |
C
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2.12
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| Omar Cook |
G
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1.86
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| German Gabriel |
C
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2.07
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| Jiri Welsch |
F
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2.02
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| Alfonso Sanchez |
G
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2.00
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| Thomas Kelati |
F
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1.97
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| Joseph Gomis |
G
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1.80
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| Head Coach: Aito Garcia Reneses |
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Cabezas is at the prime of his career and fits perfectly into coach Garcia Reneses's system due to his intensity, winning mentality and leadership. He is never afraid to take big shots. Cook arrives to offer court sense and passing skills, as well as being a reliable clutch shooter. He was the ULEB Cup assists leader last season. Welsch is a complete player on the wing who can dribble, pass and shoot to create plenty of opportunities for himself and others. The experienced Jimenez is set to see most minutes at small forward. He’s great rebounder and an outstanding team player that reads the game like few in European basketball. Rodriguez is a great defensive stopper who can score in bunches at the other end due to his driving skills and shooting range. With Alfonso Sanchez sidelined again long-term with a hand injury, high-scoring point guard Joseph Gomis could become an important player off the bench.
Defensive ace Kelati is a promising addition at small forward, as he is an all-around player with virtually no weaknesses on his game. Kelati could be a player to watch in his debut Euroleague season.  Haislip will have a major role in the team this season, as his combination of three-point accuracy, lightning quick first step and unbelievable physical skills are rare at any level. Haislip has an ideal complement in Archibald, a well-rounded big man with great post skills and footwork. Left-handed forward Gabriel not only can drive any defender crazy in the low post, but is an outstanding three-point shooter. Just as last season, Ndong will offer intensity, rebounds and blocked shots off the bench. His great hands and athleticism turn Ndong into a threat in offense, too. Top prospect Victor Faverani is an up-and-coming center and has the right coach to see quality playing time this season.
Throughout his career, coach Garcia Reneses has been well-known for his intense teams, frequent rotations to keep a very high game rhythm, his abilities to make the most of his players and his will to give top prospects the opportunity to develop right away. It will not be any different in Malaga this season, as Unicaja will be all over the place on defense due to its deep, talented roster. With a good number of players willing to give all they have on the floor, Unicaja is without a doubt a Final Four contender.
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