Archibald targetting Euroleague Finals

Great Britain star Robert Archibald believes he has returned to top form after putting his injury nightmare behind him.

The Malaga centre has seen his club side failed to make their expected challenge for the Spanish title amid his frequent spells on the sideline this term. Yet the ex-NBA draftee remains hopeful of reaching the Euroleague finals and claiming a respectable domestic placing.

“This season has been difficult for all of us,” Archibald told Malaga Hoy. “But this team is my life. Apart from my family, it is the most important thing to me and I’m trying to do well every time I step on the court. The results matter a lot to me. We have an opportunity to finish the season strongly and I intend to play my part.”

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Euroleague infused with British rivalry

Great Britain team-mates Robert Archibald, Joel Freeland and Pops Mensah-Bonsu will square off on Wednesday night when Unicaja Malaga and CSKA Moscow meet in the opening game of the Euroleague’s second phase.

Paisley-born Archibald illustrated his recovery from a back injury by grabbing 14 points and 13 rebounds for Malaga in the Spanish League last weekend, with Freeland adding 10 and 4 in a 79-74 win over Manresa.

While Mensah-Bonsu has made a quietly effective start to his career with the 2008 European champions since arriving in Moscow from Toronto earlier this month.

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Freeland sparks Euro win for troubled Malaga

Joel Freeland had his first Euroleague double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds on Wednesday as Unicaja Malaga cast aside their disastrous start to the ACB campaign to shock Olympiakos 86-68.

The Great Britain forward, coming off the bench, helped the Spaniards build a ten-point half-time cushion and they never looked back.
However Malaga remain in crisis domestically after a 0-4 start that has led to talk of roster changes. And GB centre Robert Archibald admits the Euro victory has not ended the problems.

"This is not going to change anything in the ACB," the Scot said. "We've arrived at the point where we're going to have two games a week ands we have to play them at a high level."

Archibald sidelined

Great Britain star Robert Archibald is set to be sidelined for up to two months after fracturing his eye socket in Unicaja Malaga’s first pre-season outing.

The Paisley-born centre will undergo surgery later this week to repair his orbital bone which was broken in a freak collision under the basket during a match against Grenada in last weekend’s Copa de Andalucia.

The Great Britain cap said: “The doctors say after the surgery, I’ll have to avoid contact practice for 20 days. Then we’ll see what happens.”