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Basque team have lost Vrkic and Bertans, Mumbru's appearance is also in question

Zaragoza have put together an excellent team, everything points to the fact that they will be better than last year when they played in the semifinal. Henk Norel is their only player ruled out for today

In the preview of the competition and in the special section dedicated to every team, we have described the changes that happened this summer in both clubs. We will not waste time nor space on repeating ourselves. What's important to analyze is the state of the teams currently, and the state of the Basque team is far from ideal.

The coach Rafa Pueyo, who was the assistant of Fotis Katsikaris last couple of seasons, was faced with big problems at the beginning of the season. The biggest part of the pre-season was done without Mumbru, Hervelle and Gabriel, three starting players at the positions 3,4 and 5 who were playing at the Eurobasket in Slovenia. We could have noticed that this would be a problem during the game against Real in Supercup in Vitoria where they lost by 100:61.

They have shown their better side in the exhibition game against Philadelphia, but we need to keep in mind that the Sixers are the worse NBA team and that they have just gathered again. Bilbao lost 106:104. It would have been better if they stuck to practice and preparation of today's game, because in addition to suffering a defeat, some of their important players got injured. The have lost their main back Dairis Bertans for couple of weeks and the wing Zoran Vrkic. Alex Mumbru, currently the key player for the coach Pueyo, ruptured the quadriceps in his right leg.

- Although he wishes to try, I am not overly optimistic with respect to his appearance- Pueyo answered sincerely.

Vrkic is the alternative for Mumbru and if Mumbru can't play then this position will be taken by a less known Sergio Sanchez. Bertans will be replaced by Fran Pilepic, who was a good option on the bench last year, he played couple of excellent games, interestingly, his best game was the one against today's rival CAI Zaragoza where he scored 30 points with 9/11 field goals and 5/7 for three points.

- When he was feeling good and confident he was important and same will happen now - Pueyo talked well about Pilepic.

- Whatever happens, it is clear that we are weaker with these injuries in our defense and offense and that we need to adjust certain things in order to be competitive.

We can expect a team of five players led by the playmaker Raul Lopez, Pilepic and Grimau at 2 and 3, and possibly, Mumbru on 3, and Hervelle and Gabriel in the paint.

Zaragoza has played top quality basketball last season, they have knocked out Valencia in the first round of the play-off, before being knocked out by Real in the semifinals. They have lost the playmaker Van Rossom and the wing center Aguilar, but they have brought in many excellent players and if the coach Abos arranges everything according to his wishes, they will be stronger than they were last season.

- They have made important changes in their rooster, they have reinforced themselves well with high quality international players - Bilbao coach commented Zaragoza.

As opposed to Bilbao they have only one injured player, Henk Norel who had knee surgery in the second part of the last season and they will have to wait a bit more for his return. But, they have brought in Shermadini, as of last season the have Jones, Fontet with 212 cm and 21 year old Dobos who is 219 cm. Bilbao's Gabriel likes to go for three points, so one of the most important segments of today's game will be the defense in the center positions and the tactics that Zaragoza will employ to stop him from doing that.

Pera Tomas, who came from Joventut, is a great wing, this was evident in the pre-season and then there is also Rudez. Sanikidze will create huge problems for Hervelle, while they are lost stronger than Bilbao on the back position with Roll and Stefansson.

- Bilbao is always very complicated rival and Miribilla is one of the toughest away games in Spain - playmaker Pablo Llompart said.

- In addition to this, they are all concentrated in the first round. We wish to do everything well and find an opportunity for victory. We know this is one of the worst courts and we wish to open it with a victory.

Zaragoza has never won in Bilbao, therefore this is also a huge motivation.

Zaragoza haven't won a single match in Bilbao, but today they have every chance to do exactly that. Bilbao are a much weaker team than they were last season, and Bertans and Vrkic are now out injured for them while Mumbru will try to play with ruptured quadriceps. Even their coach Pueyo stated that he is not an optimist when asked about Mumbru's state, but he is probably their most important player right now and it would be a huge handicap for them if he wouldn't be able to play. And everything indicates that this is exactly what will happen. Zaragoza played in the semi-finals last year. They lost their playmaker and power-forward during the summer, but they signed couple of quality players. Shermandini, Sanikidze, Pero Tomas, Tabu, to name just some of them. They are well covered on all positions and I think they are at least as good as Bilbao.