The return of Mariona and Helena represents a significant boost for a team that lost its first preseason game to Gernika (84-81) in a match marked by the absences in the red-and-white side and the Basque team's greater preparation. Casademont are thus continuing to shape a revamped roster that still cannot include Bankolé and Fingall, who are playing in the WNBA. The team's captain returns after winning bronze with Spain at the World Cup in Berlin, while Oma arrives after finishing runner-up in the 3x3 European Cup with the Spanish national team.
The two Spanish internationals are joined by Vorackova, who has already been working in Zaragoza for several days with a team that will play the first of its remaining three friendlies this Friday before beginning the competitive season with the Supercopa semifinals against Supercopa on the final weekend of September.
Opposite them this Friday will be an Athinaikos side arriving in Ejea with a reputation as one of the fastest-growing projects in European basketball. The Greek team has just completed a historic season in which it won its country's league and cup and reached the EuroCup final, where it lost to Mersin by just three points on aggregate.
THE OPPONENT
The Greek side have already begun their preseason and, so far, have won every game. Athinaikos, whose roster includes names familiar to the Red Tide such as Julie Vanloo and Robyn Parks, as well as former Spanish league players Mariela Fasoula, Alexis Prince and Borislava Hristova, have played two friendlies and won both: they first defeated Panserraikos 100-83 and then beat Red Star 86-85.
As a result, this first friendly and next Sunday's game will have a special component because the two teams will meet again very soon with much more at stake. Athinaikos and Casademont share a EuroLeague group and will face each other in Athens on October 21, in the second round of Europe's top competition. Therefore, the two preseason games will allow Carlos Cantero and his Greek counterpart to begin gathering information on their opponent, although both coaches are expected to keep resources in reserve and avoid showing all their cards with that official meeting in mind.
