Review the trajectory and schedule of teams fighting for survival, with Coviran Granada trying to extend their options this matchday to avoid the relegation zone. Here's how the battle stands!
Only 5 matchdays remain until the end and the bottom of the table is red-hot, with several teams reacting in the final stretch of the competition and countless possibilities until the regular season closes.
Despite not having secured their survival, Río Breogán and BAXI Manresa's 12 wins allow them to breathe easy, as only a massive upset would leave them in the bottom two spots. That's why we focus on the fight among the last 6 classified teams, from 10th-place Hiopos Lleida (10-19) to 18th-place Coviran Granada (5-24). These are their options!
13- Hiopos Lleida
Record: 10-19
Point differential: -177
Their path: The Lleida squad moves in streaks: they started strong in the competition (4 wins in the first 6 matchdays), then strung together 6 losses, won 4 of the next 5, and lost 7 more consecutive games that put them in trouble. Still, their victories in Matchdays 25 and 27 allow them to breathe easier than their relegation rivals.
Hiopos Lleida Evolution
What's left? They have 3 home games and 2 away: this Sunday they host Surne Bilbao, then travel to Lugo to face Río Breogán. Next, two crucial matchups at home against Dreamland Gran Canaria and MoraBanc Andorra, and they finish the season at UCAM Murcia.
14- Casademont Zaragoza
Record: 9-20
Point differential: -164
Their path: A strange season for the Zaragoza team, which was seen in the upper positions at the start of the league, away from danger at the end of the first half. However, just one win between Matchdays 16 and 25 set off alarms. In their irregular fashion, 2 consecutive wins that smelled like salvation preceded 2 more losses that keep them in the fight and unable to let their guard down too much.
Casademont Zaragoza Evolution
What's left? Joan Plaza's team has a crucial game this Saturday against Coviran Granada at home to open a gap from the relegation spots and possibly seal a direct rival's fate. After that, another home game against Valencia Basket, a trip to BAXI Manresa, a matchup in Zaragoza against UCAM Murcia, and they close the competition visiting Río Breogán.
15- Recoletas Salud San Pablo Burgos
Record: 9-20
Point differential: -95
Their path: The Burgos team has lived two very different phases this season. They started winning, fell in 11 consecutive games to sink in the table, and despite arriving at Matchday 18 with a 3-15 record, the arrival of Porfi Fisac and a positive record in these last 11 matchdays (6-5, winning their last 2 games) allows them to have a one-win margin over the abyss at Matchday 29, something they would have signed for weeks ago.
Recoletas Salud SPB Evolution
What's left? The Burgos side must face two games against playoff teams immediately, visiting Barcelona and hosting Unicaja, before 2 away games, the crucial one against MoraBanc Andorra (Matchday 32) and on the difficult Asisa Joventut court. Their trump card: closing the season in front of their home crowd against a Coviran Granada that should win everything previously to not arrive eliminated to that matchup.
16- Dreamland Gran Canaria
Record: 9-21
Point differential: -153
Their path: The island team was in the playoff zone at Matchday 6 and arrived at Matchday 14 away from relegation (6-8), but from there, just one win in 13 games left them in dire straits at Matchday 27 (7-21). Still, the 'Ché' García effect and their wins against Girona and against Unicaja in Málaga could be their key to survival.
Dreamland Gran Canaria Evolution
What's left? Note that the Canary Islands team has one more game played than their rivals, so they don't play this weekend (they already won in Málaga in their advanced Matchday 30 game). After that, a local derby against La Laguna Tenerife, a trip to Lleida, a home game against BAXI Manresa, and a complicated end to the regular season on the Valencia Basket court.
17- MoraBanc Andorra
Record: 8-21
Point differential: -202
Their path: Their best position all season has been 13th (4-6 at Matchday 10), though 7 losses to close the first half condemned them to suffer. From there, already with Tabak in charge, 2-2 to start the second half and relegation zone since Matchday 22, being second-to-last since then. Still, their spectacular last-second win on the road at La Laguna Tenerife has multiplied their survival options, arriving with morale sky-high to the final 5 matchdays.
MoraBanc Andorra Evolution
What's left? Another team with 3 home games and 2 away. Zan Tabak's side will host BAXI Manresa, travel to Asisa Joventut, have a direct matchup against Recoletas Salud San Pablo Burgos (at home) and against Hiopos Lleida (away) to finish the campaign in front of their home crowd against Barcelona.
18- Coviran Granada
Record: 5-24
Point differential: -259
Their path: Just one win in the first 21 matchdays has put Coviran Granada in an extreme situation. Their late reaction, with 4 wins in their last 8 games, gave them hope, though the reaction of their rivals and the fact that they haven't won yet on the road (0-14) has made their survival very uphill.
Coviran Granada Evolution
What's left? Before analyzing their schedule, one reality: the Granada team will mathematically fall to the relegation zone if they lose in Zaragoza this Matchday 30 and Recoletas Salud San Pablo Burgos and/or MoraBanc Andorra win.
In addition to their game in Zaragoza, Coviran Granada must host Barcelona, travel to play against Kosner Baskonia, say goodbye to their home crowd against La Laguna Tenerife, and close the season on the Recoletas Salud San Pablo Burgos court.