First FEB Returns to the Court with Balearic Derby and Seven Exciting Matchups

With a thrilling Balearic derby as the opening act and seven exciting matchups filling Saturday's slate, the First FEB returns to the court this weekend with an inaugural round packed with intrigue. Cajasiete Gran Canaria will look to survive its first major night in the category, while Covirán Granada, Cajasol Coto Córdoba, and Insolac Caja 87 will mark Andalusia's arrival with BalONcesto TV cameras watching.

More than three months have passed since Leyma Coruña completed the Final Four at the Coliseum with their promotion to the Liga Endesa, and since then, First FEB fans have been eagerly awaiting the category's return to the court. That return comes this Friday with the Balearic derby between Palmer Basket Mallorca and Fibwi Mallorca Palma, bringing with it the debut of BalONcesto TV, the FEB's new audiovisual platform.

They arrived at First FEB together last season and will reunite once more at Son Moix in a matchup where both teams will feel the warmth of home. Palmer Basket will host in an encounter against their neighbors Fibwi Mallorca Palma with a common objective: starting the season with that first step toward survival. A victory that would allow them to build on solid foundations, with a very recent precedent in Íñigo Núñez's squad's preseason triumph where they've remained undefeated (3-0). Quite a challenge, then, for Álex Formento's side, who will attempt to break that streak and start the season strong.

And after that opening duel, Saturday's afternoon will be prime television viewing with seven games on the schedule and the Andalusian teams taking center stage. First, with the star debut of Cajasol Coto Córdoba before their home crowd in an afternoon of reunion following their promotion earned last season in Castelló. In this first test, Gonzalo Rodríguez's men will face a much more experienced rival in the category like Caja Rural Zamora, though the latter will present many new faces compared to the previous year. Therefore, Saulo Hernández's squad will arrive with enthusiasm, but in the midst of building a roster for which that first point could represent an important positive boost. And not far away, Covirán Granada will mark its night of return to the category following their stint in the Liga Endesa with an opening matchup against a familiar foe in Inveready Askatuak Gipuzkoa. A clash in which Arturo Ruiz's men will be monitoring their facility's status (following earthquakes) to determine if they can play with the support of a crowd eager to reunite with their team.

Bueno Arenas Albacete will also experience a night of return, donning El Parque's colors in First FEB once again to host Iberolea Palencia. One of the category's best rosters, arriving in Manchego territory with a warning light on their dashboard to avoid being caught off guard by a rival hungry for success, one that David Varela will look to maximize on that first day in the office. Something similar to what Pedro Rivero hopes to extract from his HLA Alicante players at the Pedro Ferrándiz, beginning the season against a demanding opponent in Partizan Fuenlabrada, who have managed only one preseason victory but boast quality across every position. A group that Iñaki Martín knows perfectly and which, should they secure a win in Alicante, would gain extra confidence for the opening stretch.

And from the opposite end of the country, a classic venue like Pazo dos Deportes will witness a clash between historic rivals. Because Club Ourense Baloncesto under Moncho López will attempt to replicate their typical strong season openers against the always demanding Grupo Ureta Tizona. A Burgos squad determined to shake off the frustration from the final stretch of last season, arriving with great ambition to a matchup already circled in red from the start for both sides. Northern teams eager to take that first step, just as the ambitious Grupo Alega Cantabria of Lolo Encinas will, a roster reinforced with purpose to take a step forward and who will face from the start an old acquaintance in Hestia Menorca, where a club man like Diego Alderete once played. Though Javi Zamora's squad won't fall short in terms of former players following the recent signing of Hansel Atencia, who wore the Cantabrian team's jersey in the past and has become the squad's latest reinforcement to contribute on the court.

An entire Saturday of intrigue, with one of its main attractions arriving in the final slot. Because it will be from 8 p.m. peninsular time when Cajasiete Gran Canaria makes its category debut with the support of a devoted crowd for their first major battle in the category. And they will face Alimerka Oviedo with more than a decade of experience in the category, who will reunite on the island with the beautiful memory of their promotion to First FEB in 2013 against the Gran Canaria affiliate. A match now very distant for an Oviedo squad aware of the great challenge awaiting them across the court, but who knows very well that, under Javi Rodríguez's orders, no challenge is impossible.

The round will close Sunday morning with Movistar Estudiantes returning to the court three months after coming close to promotion to the Liga Endesa. A bitter ending that must be set aside so Toni Ten's squad can face the new season with renewed hope. The only possible path to beginning on the right foot against a rival for whom the occasion will be truly special, an Insolac Caja87 that will bring the magic of Seville basketball back to the second national category and for whom the opening test will be quite a challenge. A historic match in itself for the Seville entity and one in which their veteran core must lead the way against a true powerhouse.

FIRST FEB - MATCHDAY 1:

Friday, September 25, 2026:
- Palmer Basket Mallorca vs Fibwi Mallorca Palma (20:00) | BalONcesto TV

Saturday, September 26, 2026:
- Cajasol Coto Córdoba vs Caja Rural Zamora (18:30) | BalONcesto TV
- Covirán Granada vs Inveready Askatuak Gipuzkoa (19:00) | BalONcesto TV
- Bueno Arenas Albacete vs Iberolea Palencia (19:00) | BalONcesto TV
- HLA Alicante vs Partizan Fuenlabrada (19:00) | BalONcesto TV
- Club Ourense Baloncesto vs Grupo Ureta Tizona (19:00) | BalONcesto TV
- Grupo Alega Cantabria vs Hestia Menorca (19:00) | BalONcesto TV
- Cajasiete Gran Canaria vs Alimerka Oviedo Bto (20:00) | BalONcesto TV

Sunday, September 27, 2026:
- Movistar Estudiantes vs Insolac Caja87 (12:00) | BalONcesto TV