Castañeda Nears Return for Andorra's Liga ACB Clash with Baskonia After Two-Month Hamstring Layoff

Xavier Castañeda is in the final stages of recovery from a right hamstring tear and could return to the MoraBanc Andorra squad for Sunday's 17:00 Liga ACB game against Baskonia, more than two months after his injury.

The American guard, on loan from Unicaja Málaga through the season's end, was hurt on 11 January in a home match against Real Madrid at Pavelló Toni Martí. He had been having his strongest performance, with 21 points on 5-of-7 three-pointers, when he fell awkwardly driving to the hoop. The club confirmed a roughly 12-week absence on 13 January. Castañeda joined Andorra late last year after failing a medical with Hiopos Lleida over undisclosed right shoulder tendinitis, despite normal training sessions with Unicaja—where he averaged one point across five games under Ibon Navarro—and Lleida. He made an early mark with Andorra, scoring 14 points in 11 minutes against Lleida in his debut and two against Baskonia in Vitoria, before the hamstring issue sidelined him. Three weeks ago, the team added Sir'Jabari Rice, a Nigerian passport-holder who has contributed quickly amid various absences.

Coach Žan Tabak awaits medical reports on other players. Stan Okoye underwent knee tests yesterday, with results still pending; he remains the main concern. Rafa Luz, dealing with hamstring problems, has test outcomes available but is listed as a doubt. Shannon Evans II and Kyle Kuric have resumed full training—Evans returned from a sole injury against Surne Bilbao Basket but was not at full strength, while Kuric missed time in that game due to waist issues.

Baskonia, Copa del Rey champions under Paolo Galbiati, come off EuroLeague outings against Hapoel Tel Aviv and Estrella Roja de Belgrad. Andorra took the earlier meeting 99-92, with 19 points apiece from Kobi Simmons and Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot, plus 22 from Evans.

MoraBanc Andorra yesterday donated €1,700 to the Associació de Malalties Minoritàries d'Andorra (AMMA) through its "Tot suma per a AMMA" initiative, tying game stats to funds with backing from five sponsors.