Two duels in two days against strong EuroLeague competition - the season preparation of the Bayern basketball players enters its hot phase with the tournament participation in Valencia. At the second event of the EuroLeague's "We're Back Preseason Tour", head coach Andrea Trinchieri's team will meet the host team of Valencia BC on Tuesday evening - a good two weeks before the scheduled EuroLeague start against Armani Milan (2 October, 20:30, Audi Dome).
The game starts at 20:00. The second semi-final will be played by Olympiakos Piraeus and the French EuroLeague participant Asvel Villeurbanne. The play-offs will take place on Wednesday and MagentaSport will broadcast the entire tournament live.
"Valencia could be a surprise of the EuroLeague season"
"We are now approaching the start of the season and playing against EuroLeague teams is very good for our preparation," said coach Trinchieri before the departure with his 14-man squad early Monday morning. "Valencia has kept its core, they are generally still a very good distance away from us: Because they are well-practiced and we are just learning how things could go for us. But of course every coach wants to see progress, and that's what I want in Valencia. Against Monaco (97-90; editor) I have already seen several small steps."
FCBB routine Nihad Djedovic has similar expectations: "First of all, we are very happy that there will be EuroLeague games again," said the experienced guard. "So the tournament is a good opportunity to get the feeling for this level again before the first game in two weeks. Valencia is of course a very strong opponent right away. But we definitely want to use the game to improve further."
Host Valencia, generously supported by one of the richest men in the country, was one of the clubs that were extremely ambitious on the free-agent market this summer, despite the Covid situation. The goal is the EuroLeague playoffs. Not only did they convince former Bayern forward Derrick Williams convince to switch from Fenerbahce Istanbul; Serbian guard Nikola Kalinic, EuroLeague champion with the Turks in 2017, also left "Fener" after five successful years to play in Valencia. Guard Martin Hermannsson comes from Berlin, sniper Klemen Prepelic from Badalona (17 ppg in the EuroCup, but currently injured). The proven framework is formed around Center Bojan Dubljevic (EL 2019/20: 14.2 PpS) and the two experienced playmakers Sam Van Rossom and Quino Colom.
"They have a great team, in my opinion an even better one than the last few years," says FCBB forward Vladimir Lucic, who played for Valencia from 2013 to 2016. "They signed players with a lot of experience this summer, so Valencia can be a real surprise this EuroLeague season. They have generally remained very stable as a club despite the Corona situation, which should be an advantage for them.
The tournament is also a preparation for the presumed corona protocol of the coming months: in Valencia, the strictest safety and hygiene rules apply; in addition to their own regular corona tests, the Bavarians also carry out several PCR checks for the Covid 19 virus on site, as well as other measures. As a matter of principle, masks are compulsory in public, (only) for the head coaches and players, with the exception of training and matches. The four teams are accommodated together in a hotel with non-public areas. The Spanish authorities have allowed exactly 400 spectators for the tournament in the Pabellón Municipal Fuente de San Luis, which has a capacity of 9,000.
The "WE'RE BACK Preseason Tour" tournament in Valencia:
DI, 15.9., 17.30: LDLC Asvel Villeurbanne - Olympiakos Piraeus. - 8pm: Valencia Basket Club - FCBB.
MI., 16.9., 17.30 hrs: Match for 3rd place - Final: 20 hrs.
The other preseason dates:
19 September: ratiopharm Ulm - FCBB
September 24: FCBB - Brose Bamberg
26 September: FCBB - BG Göttingen