After three days of competition in Galicia (Spain) sixteen teams qualifyied for the eighthfinals of the event, with Asefa Estudiantes and Gran Canaria going back home after being knocked out. The match-ups will be: Unicaja Málaga - Coruña, DKV Joventut - Albacete, Real Madrid - Valencia, Leon - Baskonia, Granada - Easo, Valladolid - Fuenlabrada, Cajasol Sevilla - CAI Zaragoza and Manresa - FC Barcelona. Let's check each of them, with the best prospects there.
Unicaja - Coruña: Malaga team ended first round crashing its opponents by 78, 73 and 57 points of difference. Many interesting prospects there, with african center Maodo Nguirane ('93) averaging 19.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 18.3 valoration in 18 minutes. Beside him forward Álex Abrines ('93) is the other man to follow. With a great shooting hability he is scoring 18.3 points (50% from downtown) and 6.3 rebounds in 22 minutes. Both played thw whole season with second senior team in LEB Gold. Coruña has a roster with unknown players. His best element in these first three games has been 1.98 Ruben Rey ('93), who averaged 15.3 points and 12.0 boards.
DKV Joventut - Albacete: Badalona kids also arrived to this round after three easy wins (+39, +78 and +48). With a huge group of talents (Homs, Sans, Suárez, Vives) they are one of the favorites for the title. Who is shining? Guard Albert Homs ('94) -at the pic-, their next pearl (practiced all season with the ACB team), is averaging 10.0 points and 2.5 assists playing only 2 games. The important pieces have been resting. Álex Suárez ('93) has only played one contest: 14 points and 5 rebounds in 20'. And what about Albacete? They lost by 73 against Unicaja with a team without foreign players. U-16 guard Pablo Atencia ('95) is being the best. Against Cernin flirted with the quadruple-double: 23pt+9rb+9as+7st. He is averaging 13.0 points and 5.3 boards.
Real Madrid - Valencia: Three games and also three victories for Real Madrid, with many international players and a couple of interesting africans born in 1994 (Nakidjim and Mbaye). Forward Dani Diez ('93) is their leader averaging 11.3 points and 4.0 rebounds. Point-guard Jorge Sanz ('93) is another of the important elements (also in the NT). In the tournament he is having 10.3 points and 3.0 assists. For Valencia (with a 2-1 record) we must follow athletic forward Larry Abia ('93): 12.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks. Beside him guard Javier Coterón ('93) adds 17.3 points ad 5.0 rebounds, even a total of 7/24 from downtown.
Leon - Baskonia: Fundacion Baloncesto León remained unbeaten after this first round behind the huge performances of african duo Lufanga & Ngardinguim. Guard Webber Lufanga ('94) is averaging 23.7 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.7 steals, while 2.05 center Prosper Ngardinguim ('94) is adding 18.0 points and 13.3 rebounds. But they won't have it easy against Baskonia. Brit prospect Devon Van Oostrum ('93) is not playing a great tournament (15.0 points and 3.7 assists with 3/15 at three points line), but his skills can hurt. Beside him are shining Diop brothers (both with spanish passport). Mamadou Diop ('93) is averaging 10.7 points and 7.7 boards, while youngster Ilimane Diop ('95) adds 8.0 points, 10.7 rebounds and 4.0 blocks.
Granada - Easo: Granada, another unbeaten team, in this case led by guard Pablo Fernández ('93) and 2.00 Federico Ucles ('93). Fernández is averaging 11.7 points and 4.3 boards, while Ucles is having a double-double: 10.7 points and 10.3 boards. In front they will have a team with a 2-1 record after losing today against Fuenlabrada. Guards Mikel Motos ('93) and Dario Brizuela ('94) are their most important pieces, averaging 19.7pt+4.7rb and 18.0pt+4.3rb.
Valladolid - Fuenlabrada: Blancos de Rueda Valladolid has been making good final rounds last years, so they want to keep in the same line with another short team (as usual) with no players reaching 2.00m. Eventhough they are "building" good guards and forwards, some of them already made their debut in ACB. Guard Millan López ('94) is averaging 10.3 points and 4.0 rebounds. At Fuenlabrada side, a good group of prospects led by portuguese forward Jonah Callenbach ('93), who is averaging 19.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists. Beside him guard Carlos Caballero ('94) scores 12.0 points, pulling down 4.0 boards.
Cajasol Sevilla - CAI Zaragoza: In a very tough group, with FC Barcelona and Gran Canaria, Cajasol ended with a great 3-0 including a huge win over FC Barcelona (+25). With Pape Sow ('93) and Ricardo Pampano ('93) injured the best of the rest appeared. Guard Jose Medina ('93) is averaging 17.0 points with 9/17 from downtown, while georgian forward Beka Burjanadze ('94) is adding 9.7 points and 7.3 boards. Who will battle with? CAI finished the first round with a 2-1 even estonian prospect Janari Joesaar ('93) is not playing a lot due to some physical problems: 2.3pt+2.0rb in 5'. Rising prospect Javier Marin ('94) is the man to follow: 9.7 points, 5.3 assists and 3.3 rebounds.
Catalana Occident Manresa - FC Barcelona: Catalan battle for a spot in the quarterfinals. Barcelona changed its coach some days ago, and at the moment Borja Comenge qualifyied them between the Top16 after the first upset against Cajasol (-25). Much talent in their roster. Josep Pérez ('94) is their heart, without forgetting swedish Nick Spires ('94) and Kazakhstan Alexander Zhigulin ('94). In front, a team where another swedish is the alma mater: Marcus Eriksson ('93). The forward is nailing 21.0 points and 5.0 rebounds with 12/31 from downtown. Finnish Ikka Maki ('94) played great in the decisive contest: 16 with 4/4 threes.
Photo: ACB Photo / Surrallés
