Although qualification for the next continental phase is practically secured, the game is far more important than it might seem at this stage of the schedule. The results from this first round carry over into the second phase, meaning every win could make a difference when the time comes to fight for a place in the Final Six. An Aragonese club knows the format well, and a win in France would give it an impressive 4-0 record, bringing it closer to a place in the final phase of the European competition.
Ahead of the fourth European round, which they will play on French soil, Casademont currently tops its group with a perfect three wins from three games, having beaten Basket Landes themselves (76-75) and Lithuania’s Kibirkstis (77-55) at the Príncipe Felipe, as well as defeating Athinaikos in Greece (78-89). Carlos Cantero’s team will therefore look for another win in France, with the uncertainty surrounding Aisha Sheppard’s availability on Basket Landes’ lively and atmospheric court.
The American shooting guard is doubtful for the game against Landes. Photo: FIBA
The American shooting guard twisted her ankle in the team’s last league game and, despite traveling and taking part in part of Monday’s training session with her teammates, her participation will depend on her progress and how she feels at the last minute. Even so, if there is a game worth pushing for, it is this Wednesday’s clash, in which Cantero will likely shorten the rotation to give more minutes to the players shining at the start of the EuroLeague, such as Merritt Hempe and Mariona Ortiz.
THE OPPONENT: BASKET LANDES
Standing in their way will be a Basket Landes team that needs to keep adding wins to avoid losing ground in the group. The French side began its European campaign with two defeats, against Casademont and Kibirkstis, but finally opened its account in the last round by winning 65-78 at Athinaikos. They will now look to use the support of their fans in Mont-de-Marsan to stop a red-and-black side going through one of the best periods in its history.
Moreover, the memory of the first-leg meeting between the Aragonese and French sides is still fresh. The French team came close to winning in Zaragoza, where it held a seven-point lead with just 43 seconds remaining. However, Cantero’s players, helped by several Landes mistakes, produced a spectacular comeback to force overtime and eventually secure a dramatic 76-75 victory. It was a demonstration of the challenge posed by a French team that has become a regular opponent for Casademont in continental competition.
