Round 7 of Liga Endesa: Manresa seeks its first victory

The Endesa League reaches its seventh round with a competitive landscape where seven teams share a record of 4-2. The weekend and Sunday will bring matches that will define trends in the competition, especially in the lower standings. Manresa opens on Saturday at the Nou Congost looking to break their winning drought, while other courts will see player movements and matchups with clear implications.

Manresa tries to get started against Obradoiro

The Kids&Us Manresa (0-6) hosts Monbus Obradoiro (3-3) at the Nou Congost on Saturday, in a clash where the Catalans seek their first victory of the season. Rubén Burgos's team has the opportunity to debut Isaiah Mobley and Luka Ščuka in the competition, two interior reinforcements that could bring a change to their game. The Manresa team has a favorable factor: they have won the last three home matchups against the Galicians, who have not been able to win in Fontajau since 2020.

Monbus Obradoiro arrives with two consecutive losses and without Olle Lundqvist, although they celebrate their 500th game in the Endesa League. Both teams share an unflattering characteristic: they are the two worst three-point shooters in the competition, which could affect the development of the game. This match opens a round where roster movements and debuts will be particularly prominent.

Girona at home and Lleida facing a defensive challenge

FIATC Girona defends its strength in Fontajau, where it has three wins without a loss, although it has not won as a visitor yet. They face Surne Bilbao, who arrives with a fresh victory in Badalona and the return of Martin Krampelj. The Basques won in their last visit to Girona (89-93), adding confidence to their trip. Moncho Fernández will not have Pep Busquets or Maxi Fjellerup available, while Jassel Pérez and Aljaž Kunc are doubtful.

In the evening, iLERNA Lleida hosts Kosner Baskonia in a clash of extremes: the Lleida team has the worst defense in the competition, while the Vitorians boast the best. Velimir Perasović's team comes with a long negative streak in the EuroLeague (eight consecutive losses), but maintains a record of 4-2 in the Endesa League. They recover Chris Duarte and Kobi Simmons, although they lose Marcio Santos, who joins Sedekerskis and Kurucs on the injury list. Last season, Lleida won in Barris Nord (86-80), which may serve as a psychological reference.

Breogán visits the Palau; Valencia seeks to break its streak

Sunday kicks off at the Palau Blaugrana with the visit of Río Breogán. The Galicians have only won once in their 20 visits to Barça in the ACB era (March 2024, 85-88), but they arrive as the most efficient shooting team and the second highest scorer in the league. Aleksander Sekulić's team will be without Yoan Makoundou but will recover Olek Balcerowski, with Mo Gibson and Juan Núñez as doubts. Amida Brimah could debut if he receives the federation clearance, and Dominik Mavra is only four assists away from becoming the all-time assist leader in the club's history.

Valencia Basket has never lost to San Pablo Burgos at the Coliseum (six wins out of six), but this season it has not won as a visitor on its court: they lost at the last second in the first round and in the final minutes of the fourth. They come off a comeback win in Milan with a hot Armoni Brooks, although they are still without Mirotić or Reuvers. Recoletas Salud SPB loses Žiga Samar and Vlatko Čančar, although they may debut Retin Obasohan.

Tenerife and Huertas' milestone; Unicaja with Knox on the horizon

Laguna Tenerife (4-2) hosts Asisa Joventut without Ethan Happ (three months out), Giedraitis, or López-Arostegui. The Canary Islanders have won 13 of the last 15 home games against Penya, although they lost the last one in May in overtime. Marcelinho Huertas can surpass Joe Arlauckas and become the eighth highest scorer of the ACB era with just one three-pointer. Penya plays its 2,200th game in the elite, recovers Boogie Ellis but will not have Hakanson, Tomić, or Reyes, with Eli Ndiaye as a doubt.

Unicaja visits Casademont Zaragoza, one of the best teams of the season in three-pointers, with the possible entry of Kevin Knox. To register him, Txus Vidorreta must exclude either Matt Thomas or Cameron Hunt, who has a sprain but will play according to the ACB. On the bench, Gonzalo García de Vitoria and Vidorreta reunite, having shared coaching staff in Tenerife. Zaragoza recovers Trae Bell-Haynes but will not have Homesley or Bango.

Coruña and Madrid close the round

Leyma Coruña (2-4) climbed out of the relegation zone by defeating Laguna Tenerife and now hosts MoraBanc Andorra (1-5), who has not won away. Alonzo Verge Jr., Player of the Week 6, is the reference for the Coruña team, which will be without Tomas Dimša. Andorra has a possible absence of Rafa Luz in a match that defines aspirations in the critical zone.

Real Madrid (6-0) closes the round at Movistar Arena against UCAM Murcia (3-3). The white team arrives after losing in overtime to Panathinaikos and adds another absence: Facundo Campazzo joins Deck, Garuba, Maledon, and Jantunen in the infirmary. Murcia has yet to win away (0-2) but has a full squad available and remembers their last visit fondly: in May, the game ended 131-123 in overtime, the highest-scoring game in the ACB era.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Jornada 7 de Liga Endesa: Manresa busca su primer triunfo