With four rounds remaining in the regular season of the Endesa League, Surne Bilbao Basket remains determined to push for the eighth spot, the final position that grants access to the championship playoffs. The Bilbao team faces a challenging schedule, with their next fixture being this Thursday at 7:00 PM against Real Madrid in Miribilla.

The team led by Sergio Scariolo, a dominant leader in the domestic competition despite a recent home loss to Río Breogán and already qualified for the EuroLeague Final Four, will face the 'men in black' without their two primary centers. The expected absence of Edy Tavares is now compounded by the injury to Ukrainian player Alex Len, who is suffering from a plantar fasciitis injury in his left foot, with his recovery pending, as announced by the white club on Tuesday.

Len had to leave the court with just under four minutes remaining in last week's game against the Galician squad. It is highly likely that he will also miss the EuroLeague Final Four, scheduled to take place from May 22 to 25 in OAKA, Athens. The Cape Verdean center is also not expected to participate, as he sustained an injury to the medial collateral ligament of his left knee due to an awkward landing in the initial moments of the first quarter-final match of the continental tournament against Hapoel Tel Aviv. His absence, particularly given his significant defensive impact, offers some relief for the team coached by Jaume Ponsarnau.

Consequently, Usman Garuba, who played a crucial role in Real Madrid's schemes during the EuroLeague quarter-final series, and young Izan Almansa, who is expected to return to the NCAA next season, will be the primary pure centers for their visit to Surne Bilbao Basket, where they will contend under the basket with Tryggvi Hlinason and Bassala Bagayoko.