BCL Final 8, Preview: Zaragoza vs Tenerife

The fourth quarterfinal of the BCL Final Eight will see Zaragoza face Tenerife at 20:30 CET.

Zaragoza roster: http://www.championsleague.basketball/19-20/team/Zaragoza#|tab=roster

Tenerife roster: http://www.championsleague.basketball/19-20/team/Iberostar-Tenerife#|tab=roster

Coaches’ Quotes

Diego Ocampo – Zaragoza

"It’s the first time for Zaragoza at this Final Eight, we are here and we’re gonna dream and play as hard as we can.

We have eight players from last season – I want to thank the players and the coach who were here last season. You have to adapt to the players: they like to run and I want to help them playing this way. I know it will be tough to play against Tenerife, but I’m happy to see how we are improving.

We have to keep a balance and to adapt to the flow of the game. It’s important to be tough physically and mentally to compete.

It’s a challenge for me, playing in a tough league like Liga Endesa and then coming here and playing against one of the best teams in Spain and in this competition."

Txus Vidorreta – Tenerife

"For us it’s our third Final Eight (actually first one, they played at two Final Four’s), but we are here with the same illusion as always. It’s a great moment when you start the season fighting for titles.

We have an advantage – not Tenerife, but the Spanish teams – because we had already more than 10 games without fans. The most important part about the game never changes: teams play with the same aggressiveness, basketball on the court is 90% the same as it was previously.

We played against each other a lot of times, but we start from zero. This will be a totally different game and we have to be open to different challenges.

I’m thinking only about tomorrow, not about winning the whole tournament. I think many teams have the chance to win it all."

Captains’ Quotes

Dylan Ennis – Zaragoza:

"It’s amazing to be a part of the event. We have a tough opponent. Our team is excited, we are ready to go with the support of our fans back home. Obviously, they can’t be here, I’m sure they would’ve flown if they could. With them pushing us in the organization to win and do our best. With everything going on in the world it’s a blessing to be able to compete here"

Marcelinho Huertas – Tenerife:

"We just have to keep focused, we can’t let things like these draw our attention. We had some issues with our travel but we came here for a reason. We have to fight against all kinds of adversity and we have to keep our minds into the prize".

Facts and stats

– Casedemont Zaragoza are the second Spanish team that Iberostar Tenerife will face in the BCL: they were eliminated by UCAM Murcia at the round of 16 in 2017/18.

– Casademont Zaragoza have won their last eight BCL games, only ERA Nymburk (9) are currently on a better run.

– Casademont Zaragoza have scored 80+ points in seven of their last 10 games in the competition, after never scoring 80 or more points in their first six games of the season.

– Casademont Zaragoza have grabbed 29.5 defensive rebounds per game in the BCL this season, more than any other team.

– Only two teams have conceded fewer points in the paint per game than Casademont Zaragoza (30.0) in the BCL this season.

– Iberostar Tenerife have scored an average of 81.9 points per game in the BCL Regular Seasons but only 69.2 points per game in the Playoffs.

– Iberostar Tenerife have conceded the fewer points per game among all teams in the BCL this season (69.2 points); they have conceded 0.98 points per possession, while only Iberostar Tenerife and ERA Nymburk have conceded fewer than 1.0 points per possession in the league in this season (0.96).

– Rodrigo San Miguel has won 10 games in the BCL Playoffs, a joint-high alongside his former teammate Ferran Bassas; this will be the first time he will face his former team in a BCL game.

– Marcelinho Huertas made an average of 8.8 assists per game during the BCL Regular Season, but only 5.0 assists per game in the Playoffs; Huertas has made only one assist in his last BCL game v Filou Oostende, first time in the BCL that he made fewer than four assists in a game.

– Txus Vidorreta has won nine games in the BCL Playoffs, the most among all coaches in the history of the competition.