By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Updating the status of Italian Matteo Spagnolo and Slovenian Ziga Samar, ALBA Berlin informed on young guards nursing injuries. Setbacks make both players at least questionable to potentially represent the senior national team of their respective countries in approaching FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments. Both are coming out of their first season in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.
Spagnolo, 21, was ruled out for the remainder of the 2023-24 edition of Germany’s easyCredit BBL. Initially set to miss several weeks with an injury in his left foot, but persisting pain led to a decision to undergo surgery. He has been projected to be sidelined for three to four months, according to the Albatrosse. Extending his international career to the FIBA OQT in San Juan can be ruled out as well.
Samar, 23, is dealing with an injury in his left Achilles tendon and was sidelined indefinitely. He previously missed a large chunk of the season due to a foot injury. Returning to action before the conclusion of the ongoing campaign of the Berlin outfit remains a possibility. Therefore, he is likely to be available to play for Slovenia, possibly alongside superstar Luka Doncic, in the FIBA OQT in Piraeus.
With six games left in the double-legged round-robin schedule of the domestic league’s Regular Season, the team coached by Israel Gonzalez is tied with FC Bayern Munich at the top of the BBL standings. Both participants of the 2023-24 installment of the EuroLeague carry 23-5 records.
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL