By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Neven Spahija has tested positive for COVID-19, Bitci Baskonia announced Wednesday.
Spahija, 59, was found positive during scheduled coronavirus testing on Monday. He will be retested later today for a conclusive result, as noted by the team based in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.
Lead assistant David Gil will conduct practice today. If the Croatian usual play-caller is indeed forced to stay away from the team, Gil will take over head coaching responsibilities heading into the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season Round 27 home fixture opposite UNICS Kazan on Thursday. Baskonia is scheduled to visit Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv and Crvena Zvezda mts next Tuesday and Thursday, respectively, continuing the 2021-22 campaign in Europe’s premier club competition.
The former assistant of the Memphis Grizzlies and Atlanta Hawks, Spahija had replaced Dusko Ivanovic as the Baskonia boss early in the 2021-22 season.
Alec Peters, a former power forward of the Phoenix Suns, CSKA Moscow, and Anadolu Efes, is considered questionable due to a calf issue. Barring a last-minute setback, the remaining players will be available to play against the team guided by Baskonia legend Velimir Perasovic.
In the 2021-22 EuroLeague Regular Season, Baskonia has sunk to 7-17 after six losses in a row. The club currently sits five games outside the top eight spots awarding a berth to the Playoffs, with ten fixtures left on the schedule.
At the domestic level, the 11-9 W-L tally is good enough for seventh place in the ACB standings, only half a game safe in the Playoffs zone.
Photo Credit: EuroLeagueBasketball.net