Joan Plaza Debuts as Zaragoza Coach vs Former Club Andorra in Relegation Clash

Joan Plaza will make his debut as Casademont Zaragoza coach on March 7, taking on his former club BC MoraBanc Andorra at the Pavelló Toni Martí in a key relegation battle.

The Barcelona native steps in after Jesús Ramírez was dismissed following four straight defeats. Zaragoza lead by one win in the Liga ACB standings and hold a decisive tiebreaker edge from their 107-89 victory on December 21. Devin Robinson topped the scores with 23 points and a 25 efficiency rating, equaled by the now-injured Trae Bell-Haynes. Santi Yusta contributed 22 points and 20 efficiency for the hosts, while Kyle Kuric led Andorra with 21 points and Shannon Evans II added 17.

Plaza's first game carries added intrigue, exactly one year after his Andorra debut on January 26, 2024—a 86-75 loss to then-Zaragoza coach Porfi Fisac. Presented this week, he spoke warmly of his old side, which appointed him when they sat second-from-bottom and backed him to a strong finish that secured safety. "I wish the best for Andorra," Plaza said. "They trusted me in a tough spot. We turned it around in the second half, and I want to do the same here." He accepted responsibility for his exit: "Things didn't go perfectly for various reasons. I take my share of the blame—whatever it is. Now we'll go out fighting because we have no choice."

Plaza learned of the matchup from Zaragoza's general director, having isolated himself after leaving Andorra. He emphasized playing fearlessly away: "We must break our faces wherever we go and be solid at home." His next fixture is at Unicaja Málaga's Martín Carpena, where 11,000 fans cheered him four months ago with Andorra before a painful loss. Zaragoza's legacy, he noted, dwarfs Andorra's 14-year top-flight run, and he admitted targeting four Zaragoza players last summer.

MoraBanc seek rebound after a heavy loss to Valencia Basket, which sporting director Francesc Solana called a "big slap in the face." Players dropped their intensity at times, he said, but recent showings against Gran Canaria and Unicaja offered hope. "We must keep believing in coach Žan Tabak's plan," Solana said, pushing for unity. The club welcomed fans, including children, to a recent training to rebuild ties after some left early versus Valencia. Solana eyes a shooting guard to fill in for injured Xavier Castañeda and aims to close a deal soon.

Both sides see the clash as vital, with rounds remaining.