BAXI Manresa returns to the league by hosting Peñarroya's Barça at Congost
On Sunday at 12:30 the competition returns after a two-week FIBA break. BAXI Manresa will play in front of its home fans in one of the most anticipated games of the year, with Santi Vescovi and Guillem Jou out.
BAXI Manresa will host the all-powerful Barça this Sunday at midday in the ninth round of the Endesa League. The blaugranas played a Euroleague game against Real Madrid on Thursday, while Diego Ocampo's men have been recovering their players for days after the exodus from the FIBA windows.
One of the most feared visits of the season is coming to the capital of Bages. BAXI Manresa wants to continue its competitive line and show that it intends for Nou Congost to be a fortress throughout the season. The Bages team have one less victory than their rival this week and could equal it, which would be meritorious after 9 rounds of the Endesa League. In the BAXI Manresa infirmary are Santi Vescovi and Guillem Jou, who has a muscular problem and is preferred to be left out due to the risk of injury. Chuba Ohams is already available for the match.
Barça arrives with familiar faces, especially on the bench. The team is managed by Joan Peñarroya, assisted by Rafa Martínez, among others. Two legends of the Nou Congost accompanied by a squad with endless talent. Names like Kevin Punter, Jabari Parker, Satoransky, Brizuela or Hernangómez fill Barça with proven quality. In addition, point guard Raulzinho Neto could make his debut, returning to the Endesa League after 10 years.
In the press conference prior to Sunday's match, Diego Ocampo said that «we must continue improving from the basics, doing things very well and as a team; to win against Barça we have to play very well for 40 minutes, we play for ourselves but for people for whom we are very important, we need to try to compete throughout the match, every basket, play, rebound, counts».