SEN/ESP – Senegal’s Ndong goes after Copa glory with Barcelona

BILBAO (Copa del Rey) – Senegal international center Boniface Ndong came within a whisker of lifting the Copa del Rey last season with Unicaja Malaga but ended up looking on sadly as Caja Laboral celebrated a 100-98 overtime win in the final.

On Thursday night in Bilbao, Ndong, the MVP of Afrobasket 2005, goes after Copa glory again only this time as a member of powerhouse Regal Barcelona.

The team’s first game is against a very dangerous Cajasol Sevilla that has been reenergized this season following the appointment of Catalan coach Joan Plaza.

"I have a lot of thoughts before the Copa,” Ndong said.

"Last year I felt like with Unicaja, we were very close to success but that's the beauty of basketball.

“Now a year later, I have the opportunity to win again."

Barcelona, who are coached by Xavier Pascual, are playing extremely well these days, bringing back memories of 2003 when they won a Copa del Rey, the Euroleague and ACB treble.

They are the favorites to win the Copa this time, too.

In Spain, however, there are never any guarantees because from top to bottom in the ACB, there are solid teams.

The players of all the sides taking part in the Copa this week have stressed that any of the eight sides are good enough to go on a three-game winning streak to win the competition.
"Surprises can always happen, that's clear,” Ndong said.

"But it's time to show we are superior and that we can win the Copa del Rey.
"It would be very special to me.

“For me, it would also be my first title in Spain after the Supercopa.”

Ndong had 13 points in Barcelona’s 86-82 triumph over Real Madrid in the Supercopa back on October 3.

Barcelona last won the Copa del Rey in 2007 with a 69-53 triumph over Real Madrid.

They were coached at the time by Dusko Ivanovic, while Madrid were led by Plaza.

FIBA