Recap
Academic Plovdiv are facing significant fitness concerns ahead of the Bulgarian Basketball Cup tournament. The availability of two key players remains highly uncertain. Nikolay Mihaylov (11 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 2.4 APG) is dealing with an abdominal hernia, while Vatangoe Donzo (8.5 PPG, 6 RPG, 1 APG) is struggling with a herniated disc. Both players were already absent five days ago when the team suffered a heavy defeat.
On that occasion, Rilski Sportist delivered a commanding 96-68 victory, underlining the current gap in form and depth between the two sides. Rilski enter this match in outstanding momentum and as the most consistent and dominant team in the league at present.