ESP - Teams count down to new ACB season

MADRID (ACB) - The Liga ACB season tips-off this weekend with Real Madrid's home clash with Unicaja Malaga the pick of the ties.

The contest pits the winners of the last two ACB titles against each other, with hosts Real being crowned champions in 2005 and Unicaja taking last year's honours.

Despite their success in 2005, Real had a dismal time last season and only just limped into the play-offs having lost 15 of their 34 games - almost twice as many as top side Unicaja.

Real could not find their winning form in the play-offs either, losing 3-1 to Winterthur Barcelona at the first hurdle.

The Madrid superpowers are determined to put up a better showing this time around.

"This year we have a bigger squad from the beginning," said American Louis Bullock.

"This is important as it allows us to be fresher and to play tougher against great teams in several different competitions, as not many players will play more than 25 minutes.

"I have much confidence in the team that we have," Bullock added in Marca.

"We have worked very hard in pre-season, have good professionals and I hope that we do good things."

Joan Plaza's side also boasts the talents of Axel Hervelle, Alex Mumbru, and Felipe Reyes, the latter two helping Spain take gold at this summer's FIBA World Championship.

However, Real will need to be on top form to defeat a Unicaja side that can call on five players who went to Japan - including gold medal winners Carlos Cabezas, Berni Rodriguez and Carlos Jimenez.

Unicaja, who have seen Jorge Garbajosa and Walter Herrmann move to the NBA this summer, are beatable though, as shown by Tau Ceramica in last weekend's Supercopa final.

Tau, who have been runners-up in the last two ACB Play-off finals, beat Unicaja 83-78 in a thrilling final in Malaga.

Unicaja coach Sergio Scariolo, who has also lost the services of Daniel Santiago, admits thing are not ideal for his team at the moment.

"With something that has been constructed piece by piece over two or three years, to lose three players out of the starting five is not what you wish," he said.

"But for the coaching staff and the players the challenge is to know how to re-build, although not from scratch because we can call on a number of important players who are still here."

Supercopa champions Tau will begin their 2006-07 season with a testing trip to Pamesa Valencia on Sunday.

Aside from the Real-Unicaja clash, two other games take place on Saturday with Alta Gestion Fuenlabrada hosting CB Granada and Akasvayu Girona travelling to Grupo Capitol Valladolid.

Girona are one of two Spanish clubs taking part in the FIBA EuroCup this season - a competition won last year by DKV Juventut.

The other team, Estudiantes, will go to Caja San Fernando this weekend as one of six games on Sunday.

DKV, who beat BC Khimki to win the EuroCup final, are at home to Vive Menorca, while the other games see Gran Canaria Grupo Dunas meet Polaris World CB Murcia, Bruesa GBC host Lagun Aro Bilbao Basket and Barcelona go to Etosa Alicante.

PA Sport