Preview: Sant Antoni hosts Caceres in Segunda FEB clash

SANT ANTONI, Spain (Interstat) — Sant Antoni will look to extend its dominance over Caceres when the two teams meet Saturday, May 2, in a Spanish Segunda FEB matchup at Poliesportiu Municipal.

Sant Antoni (21-6) enters the game riding a wave of confidence, having won seven of its past eight contests. The home side defeated Caceres 84-72 on the road April 25, a result that marked the fifth straight win for Sant Antoni.

Caceres (15-12) will aim to reverse its fortunes after losing two of its last three games. The visiting team is coming off a narrow 77-75 victory at Toledo Basket on April 18 but has struggled against top-tier opponents, dropping four of its last six.

Players to watch

Wildens Leveque, a center for Caceres, has been a consistent force in the paint. In the April 25 loss to Sant Antoni, he logged 34 minutes and posted 19 points, 11 rebounds, one assist and one block. Over his last four games, Leveque has averaged 13.8 points and 9.5 rebounds, shooting 52% from the field.

Kai Johnson, Sant Antoni’s shooting guard, has been electric of late. He exploded for 22 points, five rebounds and one assist in the April 25 win over Caceres. Over his past four outings, Johnson has averaged 19.3 points on 48% shooting, including a 30-point, seven-rebound performance against SO Zaragoza on April 4.

Head-to-head history

The two teams have met once this season, with Sant Antoni taking the April 25 contest. In that game, Sant Antoni built a 12-point halftime lead and never looked back, shooting 47% from the field while holding Caceres to 40%. Forward Gerard Blat added 13 points and four assists for Sant Antoni, while Greg Gantt contributed 15 points.

Caceres was led by Leveque’s double-double, but the team’s bench was outscored 28-15.

Recent form

Sant Antoni has been dominant at home, winning seven of its last eight there. The team’s only home loss since February came against Castelló on March 29, 76-72. Sant Antoni’s offense averages 84.7 points per game, second-best in the league.

Caceres has split its last six road games, going 3-3. The squad relies on a balanced attack, with four players averaging double figures. However, turnovers have been an issue; Caceres committed 16 in the loss to Sant Antoni.

Keys to the game

For Caceres, containing Johnson will be paramount. The guard’s ability to score from all three levels has given opponents fits. Leveque must stay out of foul trouble to anchor the interior defense and provide second-chance opportunities.

Sant Antoni will look to push the tempo, converting defensive rebounds into fast-break points. The home team’s depth, led by Blat and Gantt, gives it an advantage in bench scoring.

Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. local time.