Real Madrid and Baskonia begin their bid for the title

Real Madrid and Baskonia begin their bid for the title

Two recent champions in an Endesa League semifinal that promises a five-game battle

MADRID, 1 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Real Madrid and Bitci Baskonia kick off this Thursday (22:00/

Pablo Laso's men are once again a fixture in these rounds, after beating BAXI Manresa in two games. The start of the 'playoff' was tighter for those from Vitoria, although their series looked like that against Valencia Basket. Now, the level is up and both teams have a game challenge that hasn't always come out this season.

Madrid lifted its bump in March and April, and even before --when they lost the Copa del Rey--, to reach the important stage of the course with all the guarantees. The rush, however, fell short with the defeat in the Euroleague final against Efes, but the reconquest of the Endesa League is on the right track.

Laso's men resolved their series against Manresa on the fast track with an imperial Guerschon Yabusele, who posted 15.5 points per game in the quarterfinals. The one who was not available and already said goodbye to the season was Williams-Goss, injured in the 'Final Four' in Belgrade. Alberto Abalde does not reach 100%, but the Basque coach is confident of being able to put him in the base's rotation.

As the Whites' coach warned in the preview, Baskonia is in the best moment of the season, since for many months he sailed aimlessly, or perhaps a very dark one. Neven Spahija took over the team in November from Dusko Ivanovic and the team descended into hell several times, with no game and, above all, no attitude or signs of life.

Wade Baldwin IV and Jayson Granger have given the leadership that was needed to a team that carries in its DNA the competitive gene and the objective of titles. After being champions in 2020 and ending a 10-year drought without winning the League, the option is now very close, unexpected until recently, to seek a new final.

The physical factor will be one of the keys to the tie, dominance in the paint and rebound, defensive aggressiveness and the rhythm that each team can give to their attack beyond success. Neven Spahija acknowledged that "it's not fair" to have to play the first game with so little time to get the players back from him.

Baskonia has accumulated a fantastic streak as a visitor that they want to keep intact in Madrid, where in fact they already won this season by 72-80 in March. Interestingly, Real Madrid also won away in the League, and won both games in the Regular Phase of the Euroleague. It is also a special tie for Pablo Laso, Hanga, Poirier, Causeur and Heurtel, who defended the colors of Baskonia.

REAL MADRID: Hanga, Causeur, Deck, Yabusele and Tavares -- possible starting quintet --; Randolph, Abalde, Rudy Fernandez, Poirier, Taylor, Llull and Nunez.

BITCI BASCONY: Baldwin IV, Giedraitis, Fontecchio, Peters and Enoch -- possible starting quintet -- Granger, Marinkovic, Costello, Raieste, Sedekerskis, Wetzell and Kurucs.

--PAVILLION: WiZink Center.

--TIME: 22.00/