By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Traveling from Malaga to Singapore last Sunday, Unicaja set its sights on the 2024 FIBA Intercontinental Cup.
Reviewing the rosters of the six participating clubs, the team coached by Ibon Navarro is the best team on paper. Ranking first in a three-team group and prevailing in the championship game are the requirements between September 12 and 15.
Stability is the driving force for modern Unicaja. Limited roster adjustments over recent years led to adding the Basketball Champions League to a long list of championships. More or less the same team with the same head coach won the Copa del Rey in 2023. Also a former ACB, EuroCup, and Korac Cup champion, the Intercontinental Cup would be a brilliant addition to team silverware.
Among the new entries for Unicaja since winning the BCL Final Four in Belgrade last April, Polish center Olek Balcerowski is on an impressive streak, coming out of a minor role with Panathinaikos Aktor in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague championship run and also helped Gran Canaria win the 2022-23 installment of 7DAYS EuroCup. The 26-year-old French big Killian Tillie landed in Malaga determined to bounce back from a long injury layoff and fellow summer signing Tyson Perez promises exciting plays with his incredible athleticism. Returning players Jonathan Barreiro, Tyson Carter, Nihad Djedovic, Alberto Diaz, Melvin Ejim, Tyler Kalinoski, David Kravish, Dylan Osetkowski, Kendrick Perry, Kameron Taylor, and, Yankuba Sima complete the squad to start the new season.
The 2024-25 campaign tips off in Singapore. Back in Spain and specifically Murcia, Unicaja is set to face UCAM Murcia in the Semifinals of the 2024 Supercopa Endesa on September 21. A potential win would bring up a championship game against Real Madrid or FC Barcelona on September 22. From there to the next editions of the Champions League and Liga Endesa.
Hunting for titles
Unicaja was founded as Caja de Ronda in 1977. A merger with Maristas de Malaga in 1992 established the current name, a product of a longtime sponsorship deal with the Spanish bank Unicaja.
Winning the Korac Cup in 2001 was the first signal of future success. From there to conquering the Copa del Rey in 2005 for the first time in team history. The next season, the 2005-06 ACB championship confirmed the rise.
Even for younger fans missing the above, Unicaja never really fell out of the picture over more recent seasons. But a drought appeared until edging out Valencia in a best-of-three series for the EuroCup trophy in 2017. Current captain Alberto Diaz was there, averaging 7.3 points and 3.0 assists per contest in the Finals.
The rich tradition also made the trip, boosting players’ confidence.
Intercontinental Cup trends
Basketball Africa League champion Petro de Luanda and Basketball Champions League Asia champion Al Riyadi are the opponents for Unicaja in the group stage of the 2024 FIBA Intercontinental Cup. In Group B, NBA G League United, Basketball Champions League Americas champion Quimsa, and National Basketball League champions Tasmania JackJumpers are potential foes in the classification games.
Since introducing the BCL champion as the team representing Europe in the storied tournament, the Champions League sides went on to lift the Intercontinental Cup trophy in five out of seven opportunities, including Iberostar/Lenovo Tenerife and Hereda San Pablo Burgos adding to the list of championships for ACB teams in four of the five triumphs.
With a total of ten titles between Real Madrid (5), Tenerife (3), Barcelona, and Burgos, Spain also leads in the list of Intercontinental Cup champions per country.
Spanish history undoubtedly supports the Unicaja bid in Singapore as well.