Bologna –
Statements by the General Manager of the V Nera Paolo Ronci in today’s press conference:
“The confirmation of the coach to date is something that gives us stability. It is very good news, we can already affect the construction of the team as early as April, respecting the budget that is the cornerstone for a healthy and serious company. To already have a budget idea in April and the coach who can already look for players according to his ideas is a very important fact.
Cordinier? He is one of the players who helped write important pages, like Weems and Gamble. They all came not from very big teams and helped us win. There is a tendency here to always emphasize what goes wrong and forget what goes right. It’s an aspect of modern society; in our environment it’s greatly emphasized. But everyone who cares about Virtus and has an honest critical spirit knows that these players and many others, starting with Milos who was supposed to be broken when he arrived, have helped us and made us win. I mention Daniel, Toko, then I also mention Momo Diouf who is invited to us at a high level. There are also positive aspects, if not there would not be all these cups in this room. But it is also fair to take responsibility for players who performed less than expected. This I do, although the choices are never one person’s. Some choices have also come because of external factors, such as having to move within a certain economic boundary, and also time constraints. Last summer we were waiting a long time for communication and then in three days in July we had to close the roster, not with coach Banchi’s primary ideas but with some choices available at that time, choosing players who had done very well in the Eurocup, Morgan, Tucker and Grazulis.
The jump was complicated, even from a psychological point of view. I am also here to take responsibility. I am little media by character, I was even when we won. Now I would like the whole environment to support the group of players and do it until the end. We have a great flag, Alessando Pajola, and around him many players who have given so much for this jersey, and they must be supported. We are first in the standings, and it is not a given. Red Star is fourth in ABA Liga, Baskonia would be out of the playoffs as of today. The environment seems depressed and critical, but I believe instead that the whole environment should support these guys.
The players who came out came out to go play, the coach made choices, not to keep players on the sidelines of the rotation. We shortened the roster, we were pleased that in a few days our players were the subject of interest from other clubs. A graft could be in the coach’s ideas only if there is a chance to have something extra.
Holiday? He came in to replace injured Clyburn, accepting a contract situation with no guarantees for the end of the season or next year. We called an NBA veteran who would not create locker room problems and accept a marginal role. Other Euroleague teams also made attempts, like Mays and Marianovic at Fener. We expected more certainly, but that’s what we felt like doing, as did colleagues from other clubs with more experience than mine. I think as soon as Clyburn is 100 percent Justin’s role will go away.
