By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Baskonia’s leader in performance index rating through the 2023-24 Regular Season of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, Chima Moneke will stay on the injury list over the first week of the best-of-five series versus Real Madrid.
The Vitoria-Gasteiz outfit is set to face the defending champions in WiZink Center on Tuesday and Thursday. The 28-year-old forward is projected to miss both contests, before potentially returning to action as the series switches to Fernando Buesa Arena next week. Spraining his left ankle against Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv on Tuesday, he sat out the game against Virtus Segafredo Bologna on Thursday but his side prevailed to clinch the eighth seed and set up a series opposite Madrid.
“We will try to make it to the Final Four,” noted head coach Dusko Ivanovic, “The EuroLeague has been too tight this season that anybody could beat anybody. We must believe in ourselves and fight. Real is the best team in the league; they won the regular season and deservedly so. They played great and have a complete team with many resources. In this series we have to look at ourselves, try to play better and believe in our chances.”
“We are very motivated. I think we deserved to be in the playoffs and now the team is very motivated to do a good job in Madrid.” added Serbian sharpshooter Vanja Marinkovic, “We can steal a win there.”
Besides Moneke, Khalifa Diop (left wrist surgery) is sidelined as well.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net