Vidorreta's departure from La Laguna Tenerife last June made him one of the most attractive options to lead the sweeping reconstruction Casademont wanted to undertake after one of the most difficult seasons in its history. The Basque coach's name consequently gained significant traction within the red-and-black club's orbit, and there was even talk of a verbal agreement. However, Unicaja's intervention, as the club was also looking for a coach following Ibon Navarro's departure, ultimately tipped the balance toward Málaga.
Despite the buzz surrounding him in the Aragonese capital, the coach himself sought to dispel any doubts during his presentation as coach of the Andalusian side. Vidorreta then insisted that there had never been a signed agreement with the Aragonese club: "There is nothing with Zaragoza. There were conversations and rumors that may have been starting to move forward, but there has never been anything signed with Casademont Zaragoza."
García de Vitoria was chosen to rebuild Casademont's project. Photo: Pilar Álvarez
This brought an end to speculation over Vidorreta's possible arrival at the Príncipe Felipe and, with that door closed, Casademont ultimately opted for Gonzalo García de Vitoria to lead the new project. The Bilbao-born coach took on the challenge of rebuilding the team in a demanding task that is, for now, bearing fruit, with a squad that has recorded the second-best start in its ACB history.
A HEAD-TO-HEAD CLASH
Beyond the reunion with Vidorreta, the game comes at an important moment for both teams. Casademont enters the round with a record of four wins and two losses (4-2), while Unicaja arrives with three victories and three defeats (3-3). The Aragonese side wants to widen that gap to consolidate its place near the top of the standings at a Príncipe Felipe that will once again play a key role.
The race for the Copa del Rey is beginning to shape the competition's horizon. The eight highest-ranked teams at the end of the first half of the season will earn a place in the cup tournament, meaning every win could prove decisive, especially at home. In that context, beating a direct rival such as Unicaja would provide a significant boost to a Casademont side looking to extend its strong start and establish itself among the contenders for a place in the cup tournament.
