2025-12-08 18:33
As we look ahead to the new Liga ACB season, the buzz around Unicaja Málaga is palpable. Fresh off their historic Copa del Rey victory and a strong playoff showing, the expectations in Málaga are higher than they’ve been in years. But sustaining success is often harder than achieving it. Having followed this team’s evolution closely, I believe their upcoming campaign hinges on executing a few critical, interconnected strategies. It’s not just about talent; it’s about how that talent is managed, integrated, and focused. Interestingly, while analyzing their path, my mind drifted to a recent event in a different league—the PBA draft in the Philippines. The snippet about Blackwater finally making their picks, selecting players like Claude Camit and Kenny Rogers Rocacurva, underscores a universal truth: team-building is a deliberate, sometimes painstaking process. It’s about finally making your move when the time is right. For Unicaja, their “draft” was the off-season, and now the real work begins.
First and foremost, managing the physical and mental load of a core group that isn’t getting any younger is paramount. Look at the minutes Kendrick Perry and Tyson Carter logged last season. Perry, at 31, was the engine, averaging over 28 minutes per game in the EuroCup and Liga ACB. You can’t just run that engine at full throttle again without a tune-up. The strategy here must be proactive rotation, not reactive rest. We need to see David Kravish and Yankuba Sima taking on more responsibility early in the season to preserve the legs of our key players for April and May. I’m a huge fan of Ibon Navarro’s intensity, but I’d love to see him trust his bench for longer stretches in October and November games. It’s an investment. Think of it like the Philippine team Converge picking Geremy Robinson—sometimes you acquire assets not for the opening day, but for the grueling stretch run. Unicaja’s depth is their secret weapon, but only if it’s actually unsheathed.
This leads directly into the second strategy: seamless roster integration. We said goodbye to some important pieces like Dario Brizuela and brought in new faces. The chemistry that fueled last year’s run was special, almost intangible. Replicating that requires intentionality. The new players aren’t just filling slots; they need to absorb the team’s defensive identity, which is non-negotiable. In my view, the preseason shouldn’t just be about plays; it should be about building those off-court connections that translate to trust on the court. Remember, Blackwater in the PBA “finally passed” on their pick. That implies deliberation, a plan. Unicaja’s management had a plan this summer, too. Now, Navarro’s job is to make those calculated additions look instinctive by January. I’m particularly keen to see how the guard rotation shakes out. It’s a puzzle, but the kind a contender loves to solve.
Third, and this is where I might get a bit passionate, is doubling down on defensive identity. Last season, they held opponents to under 76 points per game in the Liga ACB, a top-3 mark. That’s their blueprint. In modern basketball, where offenses are more potent than ever, the great teams hang their hats on getting stops. It’s about maintaining that relentless, switching, communicative system. Every new player, from the star to the end-of-bench guy, must be indoctrinated into this culture immediately. No exceptions. This isn’t just a tactic; it’s the team’s brand. When you watch them, you should see five men moving as one defensive unit. That consistency is what breaks opponents’ wills over a long season and, more importantly, in a best-of-five playoff series.
Fourth is tactical flexibility. Navarro proved he can adjust, but the league will be studying them now. They’re the hunted. We need to see more set plays out of timeouts, more willingness to go to a zone defense to disrupt rhythm, and perhaps most crucially, more offensive sets that initiate through the post when the perimeter game stalls. Relying solely on Perry’s brilliance in the pick-and-roll is a risk. Having a Plan B and Plan C, like using Kravish as a high-post facilitator, could be the difference in a tight playoff game. I recall a game last February where the offense looked stagnant for three quarters; they can’t afford those lapses this time around. The great teams evolve.
Finally, there’s the psychological component: embracing the pressure. Málaga isn’t just hoping for success anymore; they’re expecting it. That’s a different kind of weight. How the veteran leaders like Perry and Alberto Díaz manage the locker room mood through inevitable rough patches—a three-game losing streak, an injury to a key player—will be telling. It’s about fostering a short-memory mentality, focusing on the next possession, the next game. The PBA draft example, with teams like NLEX selecting JM Galinato, is a reminder that every organization is building for pressure moments. Unicaja has built their roster. Now they must build that championship resilience.
So, as the new season tips off, my eyes won’t just be on the scoreboard. I’ll be watching the rotation patterns, the defensive rotations, the body language of the new guys, and the strategic wrinkles Navarro unveils. The foundation is rock-solid. If they can master these five strategies—load management, integration, defensive consistency, tactical adaptability, and mental fortitude—then this Unicaja team has the potential not just to compete, but to lift a trophy that has eluded them for too long: the Liga ACB championship itself. The pieces are there. It’s time to execute the plan they’ve so carefully built.
