In this way, the red-and-white side, which opened its preseason with an 84-81 defeat to Gernika in a game marked by Zaragoza’s absences and the Basque team’s greater preparation, is entering the final stretch of its preparations with three friendlies. They will help the team recover players while continuing to fine-tune and fit together the old and new pieces of a squad determined to explore its full potential.
Alongside the return of Veronika Vorackova, who arrived in Zaragoza last week after playing at the World Cup, the red-and-white side will enter the final stage of preseason with Mariona Ortiz and Helena Oma also back in the fold. Starting this Wednesday, both will once again work under Carlos Cantero, who will be able to count on two of the biggest pillars in his Aragón-based squad. The red-and-white captain returns after winning bronze with Spain at the World Cup in Berlin, while Oma is back after securing a silver medal with Spain’s 3x3 team at the Europe Cup in Antwerp.
Mariona is already in Zaragoza after the World Cup. Photo: Pilar Álvarez
In addition, the red-and-white club hopes that Ornella Bankolé and Nadia Fingall, who are playing in the WNBA, can join the team next week and potentially contribute in the Super Cup, which begins on September 26. Casademont will therefore be able to approach the Super Cup with a much more complete roster and with the possibility of Carlos Cantero working with a large part of the players who will have to take on the challenge of defending the title.
A EUROLEAGUE OPPONENT
In preparation for the start of the new season, Casademont will play three friendlies, two of them against a team it will face again once the season gets underway: Greece’s Athinaikos. The Greek side shares a EuroLeague group with the Aragón club, the familiar Basket Landes, and a third team that will emerge from the qualifying phase involving Kibirkstis Vilnius (Lithuania), AZS Poznan (Poland) and Sopron Basket (Hungary).
As part of the double-header against Athinaikos, the first game will take place on Friday, September 18, at 8:30 p.m. in Ejea de los Caballeros. The second will be played on Saturday 20 at 5:30 p.m. at the Príncipe Felipe, as part of the team’s official presentation and the Ibercaja Ciudad de Zaragoza Trophy. Finally, Cantero’s team will round off preseason with a friendly against Azul Marino on Wednesday, September 21, at 9:00 p.m. in Torres de Bellerén.
After that, the Super Cup, which will be held on September 26 and 27 in Torrejón de Ardoz, will be Casademont’s first major official test as it seeks to defend the title it lifted last year in Huesca. Valencia Basket will be the semifinal opponent on Saturday 26 at 5:15 p.m. If the red-and-white side overcomes its first hurdle, it will then play the final on Sunday against the winner of the other semifinal between Innova-tsn Leganés and Hozono Global Jairis.
