The Bilbao basketball team is facing a familiar situation: they must play a Liga Endesa match with the FIBA Europe Cup final awaiting them in just five days. At a time when mental and physical fatigue can begin to set in after a demanding season, the team is dealing with a physical setback suffered by a key player, which will cause him to miss today's clash against Manresa.
The team's coach indicated that the player has a muscular problem that may not prevent him from being in Thessaloniki on Wednesday. The coach described this incident as “a nuisance” because the player “was helping us a lot” as he is “a player of great quality, also charismatic,” and at this point in the season “he is contributing more than at any other time.”
“"When you are afraid of what will happen next, tension and the risk of injuries increase."
The coach noted that the remarkable performance of recent months has created “a demand, an illusion, and an ambition that are welcome in the locker room.” The final is already on the horizon, but for now, they do not want to talk about it because “we have very important matches in the Liga Endesa.” And the first is against Manresa, with “a point of concern” from the coach, who “hopes everyone is willing to help because we are not at 100%.”
Everyone's attention, including the public's, must be focused on seeking victory against Manresa, which is a “very dangerous” team. The coach sees his former team “on an upward trend.” “They play with the identity set by their coach and with good details. Their essence begins by trying to run a lot and well, and if not, trying to attack quickly. They have had problems all season due to injuries and player changes. But we have to respect them a lot,” he added.
The plan is to try to arrive at the matches in the best possible conditions because “we are at a key moment of the season that is important to approach with energy.” “In a competition like this, detail is important, but energy is more so. On Sunday we will rest, and on Monday we will come with very clear ideas to face the first forty minutes of this final. A final is to win a title, and that is a very important ambition,” explained the Bilbao basketball team's coach, who made it clear that “no one else needs to be worried because the team has almost always given very good responses.”
