Por Redaccion Get ready for the Andalusian derby at Carpena! Unicaja will host Coviran Granada this Saturday, March 8th (18:00 hours, broadcasted on Movistar Deportes -dial 63- and ⇒Unicaja Baloncesto Radio), a game with many incentives where both teams will try to secure a victory that brings them closer to their goals.
Coviran Granada is currently in 16th place in the Liga Endesa standings, with six wins and 15 losses, tied with Hiopos Lleida and Bàsquet Girona, just above the relegation zone. The team coached by Pablo Pin comes to Carpena after losing their last two games, the latest being at home against UCAM Murcia (82-88).
Noua, the standout player
In the Granada squad, the standout player is Amine Noua. The French power forward is the main threat for the visitors with averages of 15.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 1.2 assists, and 1.1 blocks for a rating of 17.9. His versatility, talent, and leadership have even earned him the Player of the Week award in the Liga Endesa after scoring 26 points, grabbing 10 rebounds, and drawing 10 fouls for a rating of 31 against UCAM Murcia.
Alongside Noua, the frontcourt features former Unicaja academy player Rubén Guerrero (3.4 points, 3.1 rebounds) and Jacob Wiley (8.3 points, 3.7 rebounds), who has been sidelined for a month with a finger injury but is close to returning. They have also added young talent Ousmane Ndiaye, on loan from Baskonia, to the rotation.
In the backcourt, Sergi García (8 points, 3.3 assists) and Jonathan Rousselle (7.3 points, 4 assists) drive the Coviran Granada, while Elias Valtonen (9.9 points, 3.1 rebounds) and Scott Bamforth (11 points, 2 rebounds, 1.8 assists) are their main scoring options on the perimeter, supported by the hustle of Pere Tomàs and Agustín Ubal. It’s worth noting that Gian Clavell will be out due to a medical issue, and Edgar Vicedo has left the team this week.
Statistically, Coviran Granada stands out as the fifth-best team in the Liga Endesa in steals (8.52) and free-throw percentage (78.31%). They are also the ninth-highest scoring team from the free-throw line (16.3).
Undefeated against Granada
Since their promotion to the Liga Endesa in 2022, Unicaja and Coviran Granada have played five games, all resulting in victories for the Malaga team. The Granada team will aim to secure their first-ever win against Unicaja this Saturday at Carpena.
In their most recent encounter earlier this season, Unicaja defeated Coviran Granada 68-84, with standout performances from Kameron Taylor (10 points, 8 rebounds, rating of 16), Tyson Pérez (10 points, 5 rebounds, rating of 15), and Kendrick Perry (8 points, 4 assists, rating of 15).
⇒ALL PREVIOUS MATCHES
It’s important to note that the current Coviran Granada was founded in the 2012 season as CD Granada por el Baloncesto. The current Granada club inherited the legacy of the former CB Granada SAD, which had ceased to exist that same year after 12 seasons in the ACB. Previously, Unicaja had also faced another Granada team, Oximesa Granada, in the 1987-88 season in the ACB.
Rubén Guerrero returns
In the Granada team, there is a familiar face returning home this Saturday: Rubén Guerrero. The Marbella-born center, who was raised in our academy and played three years for Unicaja (2019-2022), will reunite with his former fans.
Unicaja will take on Coviran Granada this Saturday, March 8th, starting at 18:00 hours at Martín Carpena. The match, part of Round 22 of the Liga Endesa, will be broadcasted on Movistar Deportes (dial 63) and ⇒Unicaja Baloncesto Radio.
Get your tickets ⇒HERE.