MoraBanc Andorra Prepares for Valencia Clash with Kyle Kuric Returning
BC MoraBanc Andorra faces Valencia Basket in their final league game before a break, boosted by veteran forward Kyle Kuric's return from hamstring.
Key Points
- Kyle Kuric, averaging 13.2 pts and 51.3% from three, returns after missing two games.
- Valencia features ex-Andorra star Jean Montero, who averages 15.7 pts, 5.1 ast last season.
- New coach Tabak downplays issues, focuses on matching Valencia's intensity and fan support.
- Andorra's B team extends win streak to 11, tops Primera Catalana group.
**MoraBanc Andorra prepares for Valencia Basket clash with Kyle Kuric's return**
BC MoraBanc Andorra faces Valencia Basket on Sunday at 12:30 at Pavelló Toni Martí, the final league match before the Copa del Rei and FIBA windows halt play until March 7, when Casademont Zaragoza visits.
New head coach Žan Tabak, who replaced Joan Plaza, will have American forward Kyle Kuric back after a hamstring injury sidelined the 36-year-old Evansville native. Kuric missed Tabak's debut win over Dreamland Gran Canaria and the subsequent loss to Unicaja Málaga on Saturday. This season, he averages 24:18 minutes, 13.2 points, 51.3% from three-point range, 2.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 11.5 valuation per game. The club still seeks a shooting guard to replace Xavier Castañeda, out since January 11 with a three-month estimated recovery; he has now been sidelined for one month.
Valencia, coached by Pedro Martínez, arrives after an EuroLeague game against LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne. In the first leg, Valencia edged Andorra 84-79, with Brancou Badio scoring 22 points; Kuric led Andorra with 19. Dominican point guard Jean Montero, now a standout for Valencia in his second season there, returns to the Bombonera. A former Andorra player, Montero earned Young Player of the Year honours last season, averaging 15.7 points, 5.1 assists, two steals, and 20 valuation. His transfer fetched a club-record fee near €550,000 and ranks him 14th in league valuation this year.
Tabak dismissed talk of "problems" after the Málaga disconnect in the fourth quarter, stating: "Problems are global warming and the Ukraine conflict; these are challenges we must work on." He stressed matching Valencia's intensity, limiting their offensive rebounds, fast breaks, and one-on-ones, while praising Martínez's fidelity to his style. Tabak noted Kuric's potential return could deepen the rotation for sustained high-energy play over 40 minutes and urged fans: "In a tough arena like ours, we're nowhere without their support."
Meanwhile, BC MoraBanc B We Singular, coached by Cristian Vegas, extended its winning streak to 11 with victories over Bàsquet Sant Pere (84-61) and SESE B (78-72), remaining top of their Primera Catalana group.
Original Sources
This article was aggregated from the following Catalan-language sources: