By Alex Molina / info@eurohoops.net
Valencia Basket assistant coach Xavi Albert appeared satisfied and proud after his team’s victory against Panathinaikos at the OAKA Arena, a win that keeps the series alive. Following Pedro Martínez’s ejection, the Valencian coach took to the press conference, where he highlighted his players’ ability to adapt in a game marked by changes of pace and competitive tension. “In the first half, we managed to play at our own pace; it was a great game. The second half was a different kind of basketball, but we have to be prepared for any situation. Ataman has drawn technical fouls in the last two games to try and change the course of the game. We have to be ready for anything and not give them the opportunity to change things. We finished the regular season in second place for a reason: this team has heart, and we are here to compete in every game and bring the series back to Valencia. We are ready to play fast, slow, and fight.”
Albert also addressed the ejection of both coaches. He pointed directly to the opposing coach, Ergin Ataman, for once again trying to alter the game’s dynamic from the bench. “Ataman has forced technical fouls in the last two games to change the course of the matches. We have to be prepared for any situation and not give them the opportunity to change things,” he stated.
Along the same lines, he praised his team’s reaction and the referee’s handling of the game during the most tense moments. “Pedro made a great decision, and we had to be prepared to fight in every situation. We were prepared for this moment because we anticipated that this turn of events could happen again,” he commented, before adding that the situation “escalated beyond what we expected” until it resulted in a disqualification.
The Valencia coach wanted to highlight the character of a young team that is growing in the most demanding environments. “In these kinds of games, the team spirit is the most important thing. We have to be ready to compete in this match. Our players don’t have much experience in this type of situation, but we have to be prepared in the opening minutes and improve with each game if we want to return to Valencia. We’ve taken note of the final minutes, and we’re going to work tonight to improve. We have to maintain the basics in any situation, whether we’re up by 14 or down by 5. We have to improve and work hard tonight.”
He also acknowledged that one of the keys to victory was learning from the mistakes made previously in Valencia. “For me, the most important thing is that we didn’t know how to close out the games in Valencia, and I’m very happy that we were able to do it here at OAKA. It’s a very young team, and we’re building these experiences. These kinds of games take our players to another level; at the end of the game, both the players and the team are better.”
Finally, the coach emphasized the competitive spirit of the Valencian club and the significance of a victory of this magnitude away from home. “This victory demonstrates the kind of club we are, that we didn’t come to Athens settling for less. We finished second for a reason. These kinds of matches create history for our club and provide valuable experience for our players,” he concluded.