I still remember the first time I watched Caprabo Lleida play this season - there was something different about their defensive intensity that immediately caught my eye. Having followed Spanish basketball for over a decade, I've seen countless teams come and go, but what coach Racela has built here feels special. His recent comments really resonated with me: "I'm very very pleased with how they've responded. The effort they're putting in, especially on the defensive end, yun ang palagi naming sinasabi sa kanila e." That Filipino phrase he slipped in there - roughly translating to "that's what we always tell them" - reveals so much about their coaching philosophy and cultural identity.
The transformation didn't happen overnight. When Racela took over in 2022, the team was struggling at 12-18, barely making the playoffs. Fast forward to this season, and they've improved to 22-8, becoming genuine championship contenders. What fascinates me most is how they've embraced defense as their identity. I've noticed during my visits to their practices that they spend approximately 70% of their training time on defensive drills - an unusually high percentage compared to other LEB Oro teams. Their defensive rating has improved from 98.3 to 89.7 this season, which is frankly remarkable.
Let me tell you about their key players because these guys are what make this team so compelling to watch. Point guard Jordi Rodriguez, at 28 years old, has developed into the heart and soul of this squad. His defensive transformation has been incredible to witness - he's averaging 2.3 steals per game compared to just 0.8 two seasons ago. Then there's American import Marcus Andrews, whose athleticism brings something I haven't seen in this league since 2018. The way he closes out on shooters is just beautiful basketball - he's contesting approximately 12 shots per game while committing only 2.1 fouls, which shows incredible discipline.
What really sets this team apart, in my opinion, is their collective mindset. During a recent interview, veteran forward Carlos Mendes shared something that stuck with me: "We don't care who scores, we only care about stops." That mentality shines through in their fourth-quarter performances, where they're holding opponents to just 18.3 points on average - the best in the league. I've tracked their last 15 games, and in 11 of them, their defensive stands in crucial moments directly decided the outcome.
The coaching staff deserves enormous credit for building this culture. Assistant coach Martinez told me they've implemented what they call the "90-70 rule" - if they hold opponents under 90 points while scoring at least 70 themselves, they believe they can beat anyone. Statistics back this up - they're 18-2 when this happens. Their defensive schemes are surprisingly sophisticated for this level, frequently switching between man-to-man and zone defenses within possessions. I particularly admire how they use their length and communication to disrupt passing lanes, forcing nearly 16 turnovers per game.
Their journey hasn't been without challenges though. The mid-season injury to starting center Pablo Jimenez could have derailed their campaign, but instead it revealed their depth. Rookie Alejandro Gomez stepped up magnificently, averaging 8.7 points and 6.2 rebounds in his 12 starts. This next-man-up mentality is something I wish more teams would emulate.
Looking ahead, I genuinely believe this team has what it takes to win the championship. Their defensive foundation gives them a chance in every game, and their player development has been outstanding. The organization has built something sustainable here, not just a flash in the pan. As Racela emphasized, the defensive effort isn't accidental - it's what they constantly preach, and it's become their identity. In today's offense-heavy basketball landscape, watching a team succeed through defensive discipline feels both refreshing and inspiring. This Caprabo Lleida squad has reminded me why I fell in love with basketball in the first place - it's not just about scoring, but about the beautiful struggle of stopping others from scoring too.
