Another 'final' in Bilbao

BAXI Manresa will close the first round of the Endesa League with a visit to the Surne Bilbao Basket court, on Sunday at 12:30 (M+ Deportes 2 and Radio Manresa). A victory would certify qualification for the Copa del Rey, but the men in black are not going to make it easy, they want the seventh victory.

In the first match of 2024, the team led by Pedro Martínez would ensure its presence in the Copa del Rey in Málaga with a victory, and in case of defeat it also has the possibility of qualifying. The Bages team will not be alone in the Bilbao Arena: at least sixty fans will be in the Basque pavilion to support the team. Apart from the already known absences of Jou and Vaulet, the squad will be at the coach's disposal. Bàsquet Manresa has only won in one of the sixteen visits to the Bilbao court.

Bilbao, led by former Manresan Jaume Ponsarnau, occupies fourteenth position in the standings with a record of six wins and ten losses, two games above the relegation zone. The Basques have two players who passed through the Nou Congost as game directors: Alex Renfroe and Melwin Pantzar. Apart from these acquaintances, a squad with talent and experience in the Endesa League with Rabaseda, Hlinason or Kileya-Jones.

Pedro Martínez declared before the match that «we have not talked about the Cup, everyone knows the numbers: it depends on us, if we win we are in; It is necessary that we prepare the Bilbao match as best as possible; Bilbao is having a good season especially at home, and everything they do has a reason and they adapt to the rival; It will be a difficult match in a field with a very good atmosphere; They have an excellent positional game and have many options».