Faced with problems, solutions. thespar girona tomorrow he faces a crucial game for his fate in the Euroleague against the CBK Mersin in Fontajau (20.45). The challenge is huge for Bernat Canut’s team which, although it is true that they recovered from the defeat in Valencia, in which they lost the leadership of the League, with a victory last Sunday against Gran Canaria (85 -66), it is also that he is not going through the best time mentally. the lesions have attacked the template, having only eight players due to the long-term absences of Irati Etxarri and Nora Galve, and Binta Drammeh, who continues to recover from her illness. Consequently, two players from the subsidiary will complete the call-up and have many numbers to face the fearsome Çukurova of Robert Iñiguez. It will be the first visit of the Basque coach since he left Perfumerías Avenida and he will certainly be eager for revenge. Canut won the game twice in Íñiguez in a matter of ten days when last December Uni beat Salamanca both in the League (76-72) and in the Euroleague (74-48) . Rivals arrive with other names with a past in Fontajau like Laura Cornelius i Chelsea Gray.
“We face the game with the responsibility of not being able to have bad moments. It would be difficult for us to lift them because we have little turnover. We must try to be consistent to reach a tight end and have options to beat a very good opponent”, said Canut. The coach recalled that “the Canaries game went well for us”: “It was a good medicine after the game in Valenciaalthough we know that this it’s another story against a powerful team that will demand a lot from us. The eight players we have available plus Berta and Mar, who possibly, as you know, will have to enter at certain moments of the match with quality minutes, we will have to push it forward».
Canut has insisted on not giving up, even though the situation in the infirmary is delicate: “It’s important mentally convince the team that there are not three important parties, but one: Çukurova. Right now we don’t have enough people to think about three games. Thinking about the next game against Salamanca can make you dizzy because of everything that will load your legs. We have to go game by game. It is not a cliché, but the reality. We have to be strong and good to be able to compete. We need all the efforts focused on this match which is the most important”.
About the team’s game, he commented that “we have to be solid at the back because the opponent has an incredible scoring ability»: «This way we will be able to generate the shots and the next step will be to secure the rebound, which will give us the guarantee of being able to play with transition and run. It’s what the team likes. Playing in an open field is how we feel most comfortable.”
With reference to the Mersin, he said the following: “It’s an album of trading cards that any girl wants to have in her collection. From the bases with Gray, Cornelius…, which has given them the necessary European game. There’s also Hayes with tremendous swagger with one-on-one three-point shooting ability… He has a very powerful inside game. It is a balanced team, with many points in hand, that we have to make them feel uncomfortable so that they make bad decisions without giving second options». The Turkish team will have Bonner leave.
Laura Antoja misses the match to go with Angola
Bernat Canut’s team will have to deal with another significant loss. In this case, on the bench. Spar Girona’s second coach, Laura Antoja, will miss today’s match against Çukurova in Fontajau after traveling to Luanda to be part of Pep Clarós’ coaching staff at the head of the Angolan men’s national team, which play the qualification for the World Cup. So, Canut will not be able to count on his right hand in a key match. Antoja will also not be there next Sunday in Salamanca in a league match.