MoraBanc Andorra Faces Valencia Fortress Amid Internal Tensions
Andorran team travels to tough ACB clash at Roig Arena despite president Gorka Aixàs questioning player effort, as coach Joan Plaza defends squad.
Key Points
- President Aixàs criticized players like McKoy and Best for selective effort; both available for transfer.
- Coach Plaza defends team, says they compete in every game unlike some EuroLeague sides.
- McKoy excluded from trip despite strong training amid potential moves.
- Valencia undefeated at home except one loss; Plaza likens arena to 'warship'.
MoraBanc Andorra travels to Valencia Basket this afternoon for a tough ACB League fixture at the Roig Arena, despite ongoing internal friction sparked by club president Gorka Aixàs's recent comments on player effort.
The 6pm tip-off pits the Andorran outfit against one of Europe's strongest sides, which has dropped only one home game this season—a mid-October loss to EuroLeague frontrunners Hapoel Tel Aviv. Coach Joan Plaza called the venue a virtual fortress, comparing Valencia to a "warship" and his team to "a good Minorcan speedboat" aiming to reach port without being overwhelmed early.
Tensions surfaced after Aixàs questioned the attitude of players like Justin McKoy and Aaron Best, both reportedly available for transfer, claiming the group sometimes appears to select its matches. Speaking at yesterday's press conference, Plaza disagreed, stressing his firsthand view from the bench. "He's free to say what he wants," the Catalan coach remarked. "I don't perceive that. You notice it when you coach EuroLeague teams, where players might unconsciously pick games. We don't—we go to every court to win." He added that all opinions deserve respect, drawing on his experience.
Plaza addressed potential departures cautiously, noting club-level talks could occur Sunday night or Monday morning, after which his input ends. He praised the professionalism of the 13 available players, including the two named by Aixàs, who trained diligently and posed selection dilemmas. McKoy, despite a strong week, did not make the trip after officials signaled alternatives were in play. "I understand the need to resolve things," Plaza said, "but my job is to maximize what I have."
Looking ahead, Plaza highlighted Valencia's aggressive vertical play, rebounding prowess, and scoring options, advising his side to execute their own strategy despite short preparation time. "We know our league," he said. "We want to leave better than we arrived—that's what we've asked the players." He cautioned against overexertion, with a home game against Lleida looming next week, to avoid fatigue in the opening quarter.
Original Sources
This article was aggregated from the following Catalan-language sources: