The 4-2 record currently on their books has only one better precedent in the Aragonese club’s history in Spain’s top flight. That came in the 2019-20 season, when the Aragonese team, coached by Porfi Fisac, reached the first six rounds with five wins and just one defeat. That campaign ended with them sitting third in the standings, with a 16-7 record, before the COVID pandemic forced the competition to be suspended. In addition, this season’s record carries even more weight given that in five of the previous six seasons Casademont had reached this point of the schedule with more losses than wins.
The team has also found enough on-court arguments to sustain this strong start. Against Girona, the Aragonese side won 107-78 in a game they dominated virtually from the opening tip and in which their collective ability stood out. They handed out 27 assists, just three short of their ACB record, while Justin Jaworski once again showed his scoring ability with 17 points and Guillem Vives produced his best performance as captain of the Rojillos, collecting 21 points, seven assists and a rating of 26.
UPCOMING CHALLENGES
Despite the excellent start, there is no time for celebrations or lapses in concentration, and the next test will arrive this Sunday, again at the Príncipe Felipe. Unicaja will be the demanding opponent facing Casademont, who will have an opportunity to continue adding wins at home and strengthen their position among the top eight with another victory. The Málaga team, who will play their Champions League fixture against Italy’s Reggiana on Tuesday, currently sit ninth with a 3-3 record, meaning the game will also be a direct clash between two teams aiming to climb the standings and move closer to their Copa del Rey objective.
The current ACB standings reflect the level of equality during this early stage of the competition. Real Madrid set the pace with six wins from six games, while seven teams share a 4-2 record and occupy the positions immediately behind them. Casademont are part of that group and have another opportunity against Unicaja to establish themselves among the top eight before facing a much more demanding stretch of the schedule.
After hosting the Málaga side, Gonzalo García de Vitoria’s team will have to play two consecutive away games before the international break: first at Joventut Badalona and then in Murcia against UCAM. The two games away from the Príncipe Felipe will test the Rojillos’ excellent form and could have a major impact on their hopes of qualifying for the Copa del Rey. For that reason, securing a result against Unicaja represents an important opportunity to enter this demanding part of the competition with confidence and the aim of maintaining their challenge near the top of the standings.
