ACB 2008-09 - news and results

[kanijo]

[quote name='"Konstantinos":r2snoeyj']P.S. Aris Thessaloniki signed Anton Gavel, could anyone give some information for his game? Thank you, anyway.. <!-- s -->[img]{SMILIES_PATH}/wink.gif[/img]<!-- s -->[/quote]



Hi Konstatinos, Gavel played in Murcia these last two seasons but, at least for me, he didn't show a high level. He is quite strong, very physical player, good defender and irregular shooter. In a good day he can kill you from downtown but isn't a heavy scorer. He can pass the ball but his basketball IQ isn't the best. I like him as backup PG, he is very intense and can change the tempo, but not to have heavy minutes in the court.

[kanijo]

C.B. Granada signed SG Filip Videnov for 1 year. Videnov was playing last season in Solsonica Rieti and this summer was in Las Vegas Summer League with Blazers and now is playing Pre-European with Bulgaria. He knows ACB, played for R. Madrid and Caja San Fernando before so his adaptation period will be faster.

[kanijo]

Aíto García Reneses, coach of Spanish NT in Beijing 2008 has announced his retirement from NT and soon he will be coach of Unicaja Málaga

[TalkBasket]

That was probably one of the shortest spells at NT head coach position <!-- s -->[img]{SMILIES_PATH}/smile.gif[/img]<!-- s --> Any names who will replace him?

[kanijo]

[quote name='"Vilius":gehbeh7l']That was probably one of the shortest spells at NT head coach position <!-- s -->[img]{SMILIES_PATH}/smile.gif[/img]<!-- s --> Any names who will replace him?[/quote]



With the polemic decision of fired Pepu Hernández, Aíto signed because he was the better option, but also because Spanish fans wanted him and Spanish Federation was in weak position. Everybody in Spain knew that after Olympic Games Aito will left Spanish NT to go Unicaja.



Now the question is if Spanish Federation will rethink about don't have a coach in NT under contract by a club. Almost every NT has a coach training a club during the season, why not in Spain? As always said in Spain... Spain is different!



There were some contacts with Sergio Scariolo, previous Unicaja coach, to head Spanish NT but probably he won't accept.

[TalkBasket]

Thanks for reply kanijo. Any coach who will take the job, will have lots of pressure on him.



P.S. Double post deleted <!-- s -->[img]{SMILIES_PATH}/wink.gif[/img]<!-- s -->

[kanijo]

[quote name='"Vilius":16x9sq6b']Thanks for reply kanijo. Any coach who will take the job, will have lots of pressure on him.



P.S. Double post deleted <!-- s -->[img]{SMILIES_PATH}/wink.gif[/img]<!-- s -->[/quote]



Sure, with last results and a lot of quality in this group, in 2009 is the quest for gold. I only expect that NBA players will come to Poland, now Carlos Jiménez, our captain, has rennounced to NT. He is 32 and after 11 years it's time to spend a summer resting.

[kanijo]

Cajasol Sevilla signed G Andrea Pecile from C.B. Granada and C Mile Ilic from Iurbentia Bilbao.

[rikhardur]

Thiago Splitter injured is left leg in training and will be out for approximately 3 weeks and might miss the Supercup.

[rikhardur]

Pete Mickeal joins Splitter and will be out for 2 weeks.

[rikhardur]

17-year-old Senegalese prospect Mamadou Samb, currently playing pre-season games with Barcelona, has acquired Spanish citizenship by decree.

[rikhardur]

Nacho Rodríguez, former player of Unicaja Málaga and Barcelona, retired at 38. His last club was Valladolid.

[rikhardur]

The [url="http://http"]jerseys[/url] for the season.

[rikhardur]

As usual, ACB.com made an enquiry to coaches from the league with the following questions:



1. Which team strengthened better for the new season?

2. Which players can become most decisive in the league?

3. Which team is the favourite to win the league?

4. Which 8 teams will play the Cup?

5. Who will be the MVP?

6. Which players, one per position, will make the ideal 5?

7. Which team will become the league's revelation? And which player?



Check the answers [url="http://http"]here[/url].





My answers would be:



1. Barcelona

2. Thiago Splitter, JC Navarro, Ricky Rubio, David Andersen, Felipe Reyes.

3. Barcelona

4. TAU, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Joventut, Unicaja, Bilbao, Cajasol and Pamesa Valencia

5. Tough to tell, I'll go with Navarro

6. Rubio, Navarro, ?lyasova, Reyes, Splitter

7. Zaragoza. Quinteros or Ibaka

[MarkoMilic]

My answers would be:



1. Barcelona

2. Prigioni, Splitter, Navarro, Ilyasova, Rubio, Reyes

3. Barcelona&Tau Ceramica

4. Tau, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Badalona, Unicaja, Zaragoza, Cajasol, Bilbao

5. Splitter

6. Rubio, Navarro, Ilyasova, Reyes, Splitter

7. Zaragoza, Hosley and Kelati.

[MarkoMilic]

ACB First Week:



Granada-Bruesa: 83-79

Unicaja Malaga-Real Madrid: 82-65

Zaragoza-Pamesa Valencia: 72-82

Fuenlabrada-Murcia: 97-81

Barcelona-J.Badalona: 95-77

Estudiantes-Bilbao: 71-76

ViveMenorca-Tau Ceramica: 77-79

R.Manresa-Cajasol:

[rikhardur]

Round 2 probable online broadcasts:



Today

Joventut vs Estudiantes [url="http://http"]here[/url] at 9:30pm CET.



Tomorrow

Real Madrid vs Granada [url="http://http"]here[/url] at 8:30pm CET.

TAU vs Manresa [url="http://http"]here[/url] at 8:30pm CET.

[rikhardur]

Joventut and Estudiantes played an awesome game, it really didn't seem like this was the start of the season. Estudiantes with the lead towards the final minutes, but Mallet with amazing 3-pointers (including a 3 + 1) lifted Juventut to the win. Estudiantes' clumsiness in the final seconds gave it all away.

I guess it's clear Penya is missing Rubio and most importantly Rudy, it's going to be a very hard season for them...

[rikhardur]

(Bruesa rested)



[url="http://http"]Bilbao 74 Menorca 62[/url] [url="http://http"]highlights[/url]



[url="http://http"]Gran Canaria 68 Zaragoza 76[/url] [url="http://http"]highlights[/url]



[url="http://http"]Pamesa Valencia 81 Fuenlabrada 75[/url] [url="http://http"]highlights[/url]



[url="http://http"]Murcia 58 Barcelona 78[/url] [url="http://http"]highlights[/url]



[url="http://http"]Joventut 83 Estudiantes 81[/url] [url="http://http"]highlights[/url]



[url="http://http"]Real Madrid 81 Granada 80[/url] [url="http://http"]highlights[/url]



[url="http://http"]TAU 80 Manresa 67[/url] [url="http://http"]highlights[/url]



[url="http://http"]Cajasol 60 Unicaja 91[/url] [url="http://http"]highlights[/url]





MVP: [url="http://http"]Brad Oleson[/url] (Fuenlabrada)

[rikhardur]

Curtis Borchardt out between 4 to 6 weeks with an injured right hand.