The Aragonese side have found considerable collective solidity from the opening rounds of the league, with responsibility shared across the team and the ability to make a difference both offensively and defensively. After beating Durán Maquinaria Ensino 95-64 in the last round, Casademont face their biggest test of the season so far in this fifth league matchday, visiting the most decorated club in Spanish women's basketball, which has yet to lose an official game at home this season.
A run of four wins in the first four rounds has taken Casademont to the top of the league table. Cantero's team, with a 4-0 record and an impressive points difference of +125, sit in first place alongside the other team still unbeaten in the league this season and the biggest surprise of this early stage of the campaign: Azulmarino Mallorca Palma.
Cantero's team have won all four of their opening league games convincingly. Photo: Ensino Lugo
In addition, the Zaragoza side arrive in Salamanca after securing an important European win. This past Wednesday in Greece, Casademont beat Athinaikos Qualco 78-89, maintaining their unbeaten European record and moving Cantero's team to the top of their group, level with Kibirkstis Vilnius, who will be their next opponent in Europe. It was an important victory that further boosts the confidence of a team that is currently performing impressively both domestically and in Europe.
THE OPPONENT: MEINS AVENIDA
They will face Meins Avenida, who have a league record of two wins and two losses, although they have yet to lose at home this season. The Salamanca side have beaten Cadí La Seu (73-57) and Inversus Gernika (86-58) at home, but lost away to Valencia Basket (82-57) and Impulso 360 Estepona (81-67). Their leading player has been former Rojilla Stephanie Mawuli, who tops the team in scoring and efficiency rating, averaging 14.25 points and 20 rating points per game after four rounds.
The Japanese player will be one of the game's main attractions. Mawuli will face Casademont again just a few months after leaving Zaragoza, where she played 114 games over two seasons and won a Super Cup, a EuroLeague bronze medal and two league runner-up finishes. Now one of Avenida's main threats, she will test her former teammates in a game in which the Rojillas will seek to extend their historic start to the league and take a fifth consecutive win away from Salamanca.
