The Copa del Rey’s triumphant finale may have left Unicaja basking in glory, but the aftermath has brought a dose of reality to the team. As they prepare to face Baxi Manresa, it’s become clear that the title win in Las Palmas has taken a toll on the players. Alberto Díaz, a standout in the Copera semifinal, has suffered a muscular injury, while Jonathan Barreiro is also sidelined with a similar issue. The team’s captain is dealing with discomfort in his left femoral biceps, and Barreiro is nursing an ailment in his left twin.
Injury Update
In addition to these injuries, Yankuba Sima has sprained his right wrist, adding to the team’s woes. The only positive news is that Melvin Ejim, who didn’t play a single minute in Las Palmas, has returned to training, although he still needs to regain his rhythm and may not be ready to play just yet. Ibon Navarro, the team’s coach, acknowledged the physical challenges his players are facing in the pre-game press conference.
Navarro provided an update on the injured players, saying, “Alberto’s doing very well, all things considered. The tests have been positive, but we’re going to err on the side of caution and not rush him back for Sunday’s game. Yankuba Sima has improved, and so has Jonathan Barreiro, although he’s still feeling some discomfort. Dylan’s still struggling with joint pain and can’t train at 100%. Tyler gave us a scare in the first training session, but he was a bit better yesterday, though he’s still not fully recovered.”
A Cautionary Approach
The coach took a lighthearted approach to the situation, joking that it might be easier to list the healthy players. “I could’ve just told you who’s fit and saved us all some time,” he quipped. However, he’s taking a cautious approach, recognizing that a lot can happen between now and Sunday’s game. With two training sessions left, Navarro will be monitoring his players’ progress closely before making any decisions. As the team prepares to face Baxi Manresa, they’ll be hoping that some of their injured players can make a speedy recovery and take to the court.