Caja Laboral host Gescrap Bizkaia with the lead in Group A at stake – Euroleague Preview
Caja Laboral hosts their regional rival Gescrap Bizkaia for a Group A game of the Turkish Airlines Euroleague, hoping to increase its chances of finishing first in the group A. Bizkaia, meanwhile, will try to snap their bitter
three-game losing streak.
Gescrap has dropped three games in a row after a brilliant victory in regular season opener. Laboral meanwhile are coming off their first loss of the season at the end of their three-game winning streak.
"It is a really complicated game for us, because we need to keep adding wins at home and Bilbao must also win to keep their options. They are not going through a sweet moment but they are a great team full of players with experience
in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague," Caja head coach Dusko Ivanovic said.
Dusko Ivanovic would like to see more defensive intensity from his team. Caja allowed an average of 52.2 points from two-point range during the first three victories, but gave up 62.7 percent in their defeat in last game. Laboral
allowed 28 points alone in the very first quarter of Thursday’s 90-85 loss to SLUC Nancy.
Just like Caja, the Bizkaia is coming to the game with a 73-30 defeat to Fenerbahce Ulker on. Marko Banic led Gescrap with 17 points, shooting 7 for 10 from two-point range and pulled down five rebounds. Kostas Vasiliadis contributed
15 points on a perfect 6 for 6 shooting from free throw line and 3 for 8 from three-point range. However, they have to bounce back right away so that pressure might be added to the disadvantages facing them.
"They are playing better basketball than us, but we will try to compete and see if we can win, because it would be important and beautiful. I think we have improved our game, especially in defence, but when we want to really go
for the win things do not seem to work out. We must not lose faith,” Bizkaia forward Marko Banic said.
To make a comeback, Bizkaia will need to do a better job against Caja’s forward Mirza Teletovic, the Euro league’s top scorer so far in this season. The 26-year-old Bosnian player averaged 22.25 points and 6.75 rebounds in the
previous four games of this season.
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