Bologna –
Coach Luca Banchi spoke in press conference after the game against Alba Berlin: “Good game by Alba, they deserved to win a 45′ battle, using all their characteristics. We needed to control the game differently: too many mistakes, too many missteps to think about winning it. Berlin’s energy made the difference, it’s in their characteristics, they have players and athleticism to play the way they played. Especially in the beginning they exploited rhythm and physicality, especially in rebounding where our long players were engaged in two-man games: we did not respond properly. In the second half we had a different face, we did not complete the comeback because we ran into a night when statistics are cruel: many shots were quite open, shots that it was desirable to score. Easy layups, trivial mistakes, we got it back in the final, despite the missed easy shots. In the final 8-9 seconds we had a chance to attack the iron, instead we struggled past the half court. This is a difficult game to play, after sprint defeats against teams whose ranking and coat of arms are dominating the Euroleague. Tonight’s match has different connotations, there was tension and negativity around this match that then manifested itself on the court: I take full responsibility. At first I had talked about the humility of those who are currently in a position where they can only get back in emotionally first, then also technically.”
