By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
Barcelona swingman Adam Hanga said he believes that players are more concerned about possibly getting injured in their return to action than getting infected by the coronavirus.
“I’m more afraid of an injury. I’m 31 years old and I suffered injuries int he past. I know my body and after two months of confinement, it’s hard to compete at this level. It will be physically hard and that’s why players are more afraid of injury than infection. It’s not ideal to play like that but we have to accept it,” Hanga said in an interview for Barcelona’s website. The Hungarian former EuroLeague DPOY and his teammates haven’t played any game since March 6 and their ACB win over Estudiantes. It was their last game before the coronavirus outbreak led to a shutdown of all competitions.
Barcelona is currently preparing for the upcoming Spanish ACB League 12-team tournament that will be held on June 17 to 30 in the city of Valencia. The Blaugrana had their first practice with full contact Saturday (30/6).
The Spanish, German and Israeli leagues are the only major basketball championships in Europe that resume their seasons.
“There was a meeting of players with ACB, although the decision had already been announced,” Hanga said. Barcelona was at the top spot in the ACB standings when the competition was suspended was first suspended and third-placed in EuroLeague. The latter was canceled on Monday 25/5. “I don’t like to compare ACB and EuroLeague because they are different and with teams from different countries. In ACB, we are all here. [Pau] Ribas and [Pierre] Oriola went to the meeting and expressed the doubts that the players had about the championship and that we still have to understand some things.”