Bizkaia Bilbao Basket-Alba Berlín (previa)

Bizkaia Bilbao Basket

The Basque team will play, almost, at home. Vitoria is about 50 kilometres away from Bilbao, and a huge contingent of fans of the "black" team will root for their team. Despite starting great in the EuroCup (10 wins in the 10 first games), a struggling season in the ACB league led to the resignation of the long-time head coach, Txus Vidorreta. Fotis Katsikaris, his replacement, has improved the results of Bilbao Basket, which is a legitimate contender for the title.

Alba Berlin

The continental season of the German powerhouse didn't start the best way, after failing to qualify for the Euroleague, the main target of Alba Berlin. But finally, the young coach Luka Pavicevic has handle a roster filled with foreign players to bring them to the final stages of the second European competition. This EuroCup would be the second continental title after the 1995 Korac Cup.

Key players (Bizkaia Bilbao Basket)
Marko Banic is the MVP of the EuroCup. That is the importance of the Croatian forward in his team. where he plays since 2005. Banic wants to lead Bizkaia to the first title ever in his short history (10 years). The frontcourt also has two important players in Axel Hervelle and Jerome Moiso, while the leader in the guard position is Javier Salgado. The captain is the symbol of the young Basque team.

Starting five
PG-Javi Rodríguez
SG-Chris Warren
SF-Álex Mumbrú
PF-Marko Banic
C-Axel Hervelle

Key players (Alba Berlin)
Immanuel McElroy is the reference in the Alba Berlin offensive. The American forward arrived to the German capital after 4 years in the Koln 99ers in 2008, and has become the leader of Alba. The American core is the reference in a team with Julius Jenkins, Adam Chubb and Rashad Wright as the best complements for McElroy, along with the Montenegrin center Blagota Sekulic

Starting five
PG-Rashad Wright
SG-Julius Jenkins
SF-Immanuel McElroy
PF-Dragan Dojcin
C-Blagota Sekulic