Regular Season
- November 13, 2008
- PALACIO DE LOS DEPORTES J.M. MARTIN CARPENA
Local time: 8:45 PM
TV
CET: 8:45 PM
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Head Coaches
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GARCIA RENESES, AITO
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Unicaja head coach
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"First of all we have to recover Boniface Ndong, who is having some problems with his leg. We also have to recover from the four road games we just had, which I think could have affected us by the fact of not having our crowd by our side. Now we are welcoming a great Cibona in this Euroleague, they have won three games and we have already lost one. It will be a challenging game because our goal has to be the Top 16 and right now it is a little far away. We have to find our best game again, which we lost in these last couple of games due to injuries of players like Kelati and Jimenez, and also because of playing so many road games in a row."
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PERASOVIC, VELIMIR
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Cibona head coach
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"This is the arena where I lost the title when I was Tau Ceramica coach, but
the following year I also won there. We are talking about really special atmosphere
and the city that loves and lives for basketball. I think that Unicaja is
some kind of dark horse this year for winning the Euroleague, and that they
are going to put us on the biggest test so far. That does not mean that we
are going there to surrender, but it is going to be extremely difficult."
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Players
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CABEZAS, CARLOS
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Unicaja guard
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"We have to be mentally strong. Now it is a crucial moment in the Euroleague to look towards the Top 16, but I still think that we only depend on ourselves. The next game is against Cibona, a tough rivalk which has not lost a game. We have to win no matter what and after that, try to rest as much as possible for anothertough one this weekend against Pamesa Valencia. We had a lot of road games and this year, the difference can be in winning those kind of games. Cibona is a solid team which know each other very well and results tell us that story, too. They have beaten strong teams like Olympiacos and Maccabi."
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TROHA, ROBERT
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Cibona guard
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"I know that Unicaja lost two in a row, against Avellino and Gran Canaria, so
this will be a really important game for them. Coach Perasovic knows Spanish
basketball well and I know that we are going to be prepared for everything
in Malaga. If we play our defense on the level we played against Olympiacos
and Crvena zvezda, anything is possible."
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A high-profile showdown is set to take place in Group A on Thursday, when Unicaja welcomes Cibona in Malaga, Spain on Thursday. Unicaja hopes to break its two-game losing streak in front of its fans at Martin Carpena Arena, where it has won 19 consecutive Euroleague games dating back to December 2006. Meanwhile, Cibona is the Group A leader at 3-0 and wants to carry on beating the expectations. Unicaja is still battling injuries, as Berni Rodriguez, Alfonso Sanchez and German Gabriel are still sidelined while center Boniface Ndong did not practice on Tuesday and is doubtful for the game against Cibona. If Ndong is unable to play, athletic forward Marcus Haislip and centers Robert Archibald and Vitor Faverani will see extended playing time. Carlos Jimenez may also see some minutes at power forward. Archibald will have the tough mission to guard Nikola Prkacin, who has been unstoppable lately. Jared Homan and Vedran Vukusic are ready to face Haislip, a natural-born mismatch due to his athleticism, deep range and speed. Luksa Andric will step off the Cibona bench to offer intensity and the occasional three-pointer. It will be a very special game for Davor Kus, back in Malaga to face Unicaja for the first time since playing for them last season. Kus and Rawle Marshall have been the heart and soul of Cibona in recent games. Marin Rozic and Branimir Longin are experienced, talented players ready to help at both wings. Kus will test his scoring skills against Joseph Gomis, while Thomas Kelati and Jiri Welsch will be key players in this game, not only for what they can contribute in offense, but also to stop Marshall. The point guard battle will be equally interesting, especially since Earl Calloway led Cibona to down Olympiacos last week. Calloway put out a show with his court sense, clutch and driving skills. Vedran Princ backs him up off the Cibona bench. Calloway will not have it easy against experienced point guard Carlos Cabezas, right at the prime of his career. Omar Cook offers passing skills, clutch and determination off the bench. Unicaja needs to play at its usual level in defense and to stop Marshall and Calloway, who were just unstoppable against Olympiacos. Cibona has been outstanding on defense lately, so expect an intense, hard-fought battle at Martin Carpena Arena this week.
GAME QUOTES
Unicaja
- Swingman Jiri Welsch needs just 3 more steals to reach 100 for his Euroleague Basketball career.
Cibona
- Cibona is off to its best start in over a decade. Cibona had not won its first three games in the top European competition since the 1996-97 season, when it topped Estudiantes, Spirou Charleroi and Alba Berlin for a 3-0 record.
- Guard Davor Kus returns to Malaga after playing for Unicaja last season.
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Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Euroleague.net
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Stats Comparisions: Teams and players
| 75.3 |
Pts. |
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HAISLIP, MARCUS |
13.7 |
Pts. |
15.3 |
MARSHALL, RAWLE |
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Pts. |
74.7 |
| 52.73 % |
2FG% |
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JIMENEZ, CARLOS |
100.00 % |
2FG% |
100.00 % |
TROHA, ROBERT |
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2FG% |
55.32 % |
| 29.41 % |
3FG% |
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WELSCH, JIRI |
75.00 % |
3FG% |
66.67 % |
PRINC, VEDRAN |
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3FG% |
34.48 % |
| 32.7 |
Rebounds |
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NDONG, BONIFACE |
6.3 |
Rebounds |
5.0 |
ANDRIC, LUKSA |
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Rebounds |
30.0 |
| 12.7 |
Assist. |
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COOK, OMAR |
4.7 |
Assist. |
3.7 |
CALLOWAY, EARL |
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Assist. |
10.3 |
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