Both Bennet Cantu and Maccabi Electra need the win on Thursday when they meet in Group H of the Turkish Airlines Euroleague.
In a battle to get closer to the Quarter-final Play-offs in Group H, Bennet Cantu hosts Maccabi Electra on Thursday.
Cantu and Maccabi are tied at 1-1 in Group H, which makes the game even more interesting, and face each other for the first time since 1984.
Both teams made it to the European Cup final in 1982, when Cantu edged Maccabi to claim its second consecutive continental crown. Cantu has a 5-1 record in front of its fans but Maccabi has won its last two games on the road. This game offers a great home crowd, tradition, excitement and a pivotal Top 16 showdown.
Other than Marko Scekic, Cantu has a full roster this week. Guy Pnini returned to action over the weekend and played 20 minutes in the Israeli League Monday, so he should be available for regular duty in Cantu.
Cantu needs to stop All-Euroleague centre Sofoklis Schortsanitis to improve its chances to win the game. Schortsanitis will use his size and power against veteran Denis Marconato and young talent Giorgi Shermadini, who is having a great season.
Schortsanitis gets a lot of space in the low post when playing alongside Lior Eliyahu and especially David Blu, an elite three-point shooter always ready to pull the trigger.
Maccabi is really deep at centre, as it can also use Shawn James and especially Richard Hendrix, whose low-post presence and offensive rebounds can make the difference in this game. Eliyahu must use his speed and transition game against Maarty Leunen, who sees most minutes at power forward.
Hendrix will face a physical test against recently signed big man Greg Brunner. Maccabi must slow tall playmaker Andrea Cinciarini to have more chances to win the game. But Cinciarini is not the hosts' only option at point guard, as Cantu can also use veteran bomber Nicolas Mazzarino and Nico Gianella.
Cinciarini will probable see playing time against former Euroleague MVP Theo Papaloukas, while Gianella and Mazzarino will need to stop Yogev Ohayon and Demond Mallet, whose deep range and up-tempo style could have a critical impact in this game.
Gianluca Basile and Vladimir Micov see most playing time at both wings for Cantu. Basile must use his experience, defense and three-point shots against Keith Langford in a key matchup.
Micov will run his physical game against Devin Smith. Tal Burstein can bring know-how and deep range for Maccabi.
Cantu likes to slow down the tempo and Maccabi thrives in transition, so controlling the game rhythm will be absolutely critical.
Euroleague Live Streaming Schedule:
- 16:15 - CSKA Moscow vs Galatasaray
- 18:30 - Fenerbahce vs Panathinaikos
- 19:45 - Barcelona vs Zalgiris
- 19:45 - Cantu vs Maccabi Electra
- 19:45 - Unicaja vs Montepaschi Siena
