Casademont had only previously made a similar start in two seasons. The first was in the 2013-2014 campaign, with José Luis Abós in charge, when the Aragonese side defeated Bilbao (77-86), Obradoiro (82-86) and Manresa (89-52) and lost to Tenerife (60-66). The second and most recent came in 2019-2020, under Porfi Fisac, after beating Gran Canaria (73-79), Obradoiro (96-64) and Real Betis (69-71) and losing to Valencia (82-97). In fact, that season the club recorded the best start in its history, reaching a notable and encouraging 6-1 record.
Gonzalo García de Vitoria now joins Abós and Fisac on the select list of coaches who have started a season with three wins in four games, leading an Aragonese team that has begun to show reasons to look upwards. Only Real Madrid, the sole team to have won all its games so far, has a better record than Casademont, one of a group of five teams at the top. The Red-and-Blacks share the standings with several of the teams setting the pace in this early stage of the competition, in a position that invites optimism while keeping in mind that the season has only just begun.
García de Vitoria joins Abós and Fisac as the coaches who have achieved this start to the season. Photo: ACBPhoto/Esther Casas
The impressions left during preseason have not amounted to merely a good initial feeling. The Red-and-Blacks, who are showing that they have a balanced roster with different ways to hurt their opponents, have carried those positive impressions into official games and are finding reasons to believe in their growth. The scoring ability displayed against Lleida, with 109 points and as many as 38 in the second quarter, is evidence of Casademont's offensive potential. If they can continue improving defensively, they have plenty of chances to keep winning a large number of games. Their next challenge will be a demanding visit to the Palau to face Barça (21:00).
THE THREE-POINTER AS THEIR BIGGEST WEAPON
If there is one factor that stands out in this new and exciting Casademont team, it is the three-pointer. After four rounds in the ACB, the Aragonese club is the team that makes the most three-pointers per game (13.25) and has the best percentage from beyond the arc (44.17%). All this comes with a roster in which most players can score from beyond 6.75 meters. In fact, in the latest game against Lleida, as many as eight players made at least one three-pointer in a game where Casademont converted 15 of 34 attempts.
Thus, with the favorable factor of playing only one game per week and a roster that is beginning to find its place under García de Vitoria, Casademont is inspiring, convincing and fueling the feeling that it can aim for important achievements this season. So far, the 3-1 record guarantees nothing, but it does send a significant signal: the team has made a strong start and has already earned the right to look ahead with ambition.
