With departure for Cancun, Mexico less than a week away and half of its allotment of ten practice days remaining, Valparaiso revealed Monday the opposition it will face on its first-ever preseason foreign tour August 8-13, including a pro squad that went 31-9 in the Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional last season.

“Practices have been just wonderful so far,” said Crusader head coach Homer Drew.  “This has been my first experience with July practices and I would love to have more of them.  The players came in fresh and energetic, and we’ve been able to put in lots of our offensive and defensive plays.  We’re exciting about finishing practice this week and heading to Cancun to face some tough opposition next week.”

The Crusaders will fly down to Cancun on Sunday, August 8 and then play one game a night at 7pm August 9-12 before flying back to the States on Friday, August 13.  The games on Monday and Wednesday will pit Valpo against LNBP squad Pioneros de Quintana Roo, which finished the 2009-2010 regular season in third place out of 20 teams before falling in seven games in the league semifinals to the eventual league champion.  Meanwhile, on Tuesday and Thursday, the Crusaders will take on Rebotera de Cancun.

“Cory, Cam, Kevin and Vuc have all really been working hard in the post so far in practice,” said Drew.  “They all have come in stronger and more aggressive around the boards.  Meanwhile, all our perimeter players have come in, worked hard and really learned very quickly.  We are a team that will have good depth this season.”