Spain seeks to maintain the full schedule on the second day

The BKT EuroCup gives no rest. Just seven days after the first matchday, the competition once again puts the spotlight on the 32 participating teams in a second round that will take place between Tuesday and Wednesday. For the three representatives of Liga Endesa, this appointment arrives with very different expectations: two seek to maintain their undefeated status, and one urgently needs to find solutions.

Tenerife travels to London with a 1-0 in hand

The team from La Laguna will open the Spanish action on Tuesday, October 6, at 20:30 (19:30 in the Canary Islands) at the home of the London Lions. Tenerife arrives after its initial victory of 82-75 against Türk Telekom, a result that allows them to approach the visit to the British capital with confidence. They will face a team of Englishmen who narrowly lost in Siauliai and have yet to register a win in the competition.

The clash presents a very evident tactical contrast. The Lions rely on their interior play. In the first match, Thomas Kennedy and Joel Scott combined for 9 of 13 on two-point shots, a figure that reflects their dependence on the paint. From there, they will try to punish the Canarians. However, Tenerife has an unusual tool to counter this strategy: Tim Abromaitis, a pivot who plays outside and can draw opposing big men to the three-point line. If the English team chooses to pull their bigs out of the paint to defend the American, they will lose their main offensive weapon.

Burgos faces the toughest test in Thessaloniki

The most challenging challenge of the day for a Spanish team comes on Wednesday, October 7, at 19:00. The San Pablo Burgos led by Porfi Fisac travels to Thessaloniki to face Aris, with both teams arriving undefeated (1-0). The Castilian team closed its European debut with a victory of 85-81 against Cedevita Olimpija, a result secured by DJ Steward with a decisive three-pointer when the score was 80-79. The American shooting guard finished with 22 points in just 22 minutes, a performance that showcased his offensive credentials.

Steward will face Matt Morgan, another shooter of considerable volume. This duel between perimeter players could be pivotal in the final outcome. But Aris possesses another equally dangerous weapon: rebounding. The Greeks won in Le Mans with 49 rebounds, a number that forces Burgos to secure their defensive glass very well. Sekou Doumbouya, who debuted with a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds, will be key in that battle under the boards. The Burgos team played its first match without Retin Obasohan or Vlatko Cancar, who underwent meniscus surgery in mid-September.

An absence that weighs on defense

The absence of Cancar is particularly significant as it affects the team's defensive capacity. His absence necessitates a redistribution of roles that Burgos will need to manage accurately if they want to avoid perimeter issues and maintain an advantage in offensive rebounding.

Manresa seeks to react at home

The Kids&Us Manresa closes the matchday on Wednesday, October 7, at 20:30 in the Nou Congost. The Catalan team faces its second game with an urgent need to react. Their debut in Thessaloniki was tremendously tough. Manresa held on for three complete quarters against PAOK but collapsed in the final act, losing clearly. Cedi Osman was decisive for the Greeks, reaching 23 points. The main problem was the outside shooting: just 5 of 27 attempts from three, a percentage that condemns any modern team.

Chibuzo Agbo, who missed all five of his attempts from distance, is among those who most need to reconnect with the hoop. Ulm, the rival visiting Nou Congost, is not coming to hand out gifts. The German team won in the first match against Balkan with 19 points from Ibi Watson and arrives in Barcelona with the confidence of a 1-0. For Manresa, losing at home would mean starting the group phase with a record of 0-2, a very complicated situation to manage psychologically.

The rest of the second matchday

Beyond the Spanish representatives, the matchday offers other highly interesting matchups. Bourg, the champion of the competition, remains winless after falling to Napoli in their debut. On Tuesday, they host Tofas, one of the teams that impressed the most in the first matchday. Tyson Walker debuted with 20 points and 6 steals for the French team, but they will need to contain Bryce Jones, who recorded 13 points, 6 assists, and 6 steals against Chemnitz.

There is another duel of undefeated teams besides Burgos-Aris: Buducnost-Napoli in Podgorica. The Montenegrins trounced Slask with 23 points from Juwan Morgan, his best mark as a professional. Napoli arrives after beating the champion, giving them an extra boost of confidence.

Among the title contenders, Hapoel Jerusalem visits Cedevita, the rival of Burgos in the first matchday. Their pivot Kenny Lofton, with 22 points and 10 rebounds in his debut, will have a direct duel with David Skara. Osman’s PAOK travels to Sarajevo to face a Bosna team that lost in the last play against Lietkabelis. Türk Telekom, the rival that Tenerife defeated, hosts Maxima Roma, who won by 34 points in their debut. The Turks lost 21 turnovers that night and will need to take better care of possession.

Reyer Venice, who scored 104 points against Frankfurt, visits Cluj, the team that scored the least in the first matchday with 55 points. And the Bulgarian Balkan plays its first home game in EuroCup history against Bahcesehir, who has Trevion Williams, one of the most complete big men in the tournament with 9 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists in his debut.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, España busca mantener el pleno en la segunda jornada