Caja Laboral and Bennet Cantu go into battle tonight in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague with both teams still undefeated.
In a showdown between two undefeated teams in Group A, Caja Laboral welcomes Bennet Cantu to Vitoria on Wednesday.
Both teams meet again for the first time since the 1991-92 season. Playing against Laboral is special for several Cantu players - Vladimir Micov returns to Vitoria to face his former team; Denis Marconato scored a career-high 21 points against Laboral and Gianluca Basile hit an eight-metre, buzzer-beating three-pointer to give FC Barcelona the win over Laboral in a pivotal game in the Spanish League finals.
Laboral are always strong at home and are the favourites due to their experience, talent and depth, but Cantu wants to keep the momentum going with their first road win.
Joey Dorsey will not be able to help Caja Laboral due to injury, while Cantu has no injury problems to contend with.
Laboral has a very balanced point guard duo in Thomas Heurtel and Pablo Prigioni, a great defensive stopper ready to put the shackles on Andrea Cinciarini.
Cantu needs to find the way to stop All-Euroleague forward Fernando San Emeterio, but has the right man to do it in Vladimir Micov, in what can be considered one of the key match-ups of the game.
Laboral is undersized at centre and Cantu must take advantage of it with Marconato and, above all, Giorgi Shermadini.
Mirza Teletovic has added more low- post presence to his game, but must make the most out of his deep range and strength against a blue-collar player like Maarten Leunen. Cantu are a defensive team that likes to play down-tempo, so Laboral must deny that to have more options to win.
