Víctor Neila and Benet Ibáñez meet in the preview of an unprecedented derby in the Cup

The 5th day of group 2 of the Catalunya Cup will bring this Sunday (5:45 pm) an unprecedented derby in the category. A TGN Bàsquet – CB Valls Lear that has been produced on many occasions in Primera Catalana, but never in the highest Catalan division. Last season the two teams from Tarragona coincided, but the restructuring of the category due to the Covid-19 pandemic as the Spanish First Division Women’s Championship divided Valls and TGN Bàsquet into two different groups and prevented the duel. This season, the lilacs and the rojiblancas will meet, together with Reus Ploms Salle, to decide who is the best women’s team in the province, since there are no women’s clubs in higher divisions.

For now, TGN Bàsquet leads this provisional fight. The girls led by Víctor Neila are in full positive streak with three victories in three games played. The last one in his visit to Joventut Les Corts (49-50). A positive dynamic that “has made us gain in confidence and consistency as a block”, details the TGN Bàsquet coach who hopes to extend it for at least one more day.

For its part, the pupils of Bénet Ibáñez reach the derby after a balsamic victory against Draft Gramenet (55-52). The Vallenses coach assures that “the victory has helped us to recover mentally from the three previous defeats, especially that of Roser” and is clear that they will arrive at the Pavelló del Sagrat Cor with “the aspiration to compete in the derby and win it.”

Neila and Ibáñez know that neither the lila unbeaten nor the rearmament of the rojiblanco morale will be decisive factors. It’s a derby. They are different parties. They go beyond all logic. There are many factors that make it special ”, says the TGN Bàsquet coach. His counterpart on the CB Valls bench highlights the control of the nerves as decisive in this kind of game: «The players know each other. Many are friends, but there is also rivalry between them. The game is very attractive and people want to play it. All that euphoria and anxiety must be controlled so as not to transmit nerves.

The friendship on the court also extends to the benches. Víctor and Benet know each other from their many years dedicated to basketball in the province. “He is a friend. A great person on and off the track. We have known each other our whole lives and we both know what each other’s teams are like, ”says the Vallense. The tactical surprises are left for another time, with more unknown contenders. CB Valls knows that TGN Bàsquet is committed to a high pace and that they will have to further reduce the numerous losses they have committed in the first matches. The locals try to run and make the rival run. Despite the difference that the classification makes, Benet Ibáñez believes that the duel will be equalized and that “the team that masters the small details, such as the success of the free throws, will win the victory.”

The two coaches highlight the importance of the derby for territorial basketball and hope that both the fans and the protagonists will enjoy a match that will be broadcast on TAC12.

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