Virtus Bologna, Sergio Scariolo: “Great respect for Venice.”

Scariolo’s words on the eve of Virtus Bologna-Reyer Venezia

Virtus Bologna coach Sergio Scariolo presented the Final Eight quarterfinal challenge against Reyer Venezia, scheduled for Thursday at 6 p.m. at Pala Alpitour in Turin.

“I’m not a great friend of preemptive proclamations, I’m more a friend of doing the things that make you win, obviously each in his own role: helping the players focus on what are the things that make you win, more than trumpeting to the four winds that we want to win,” the bianconeri coach stressed. We certainly have ambition and competitiveness well demonstrated both nationally and internationally, but now, also in view of the precarious health conditions in which we present ourselves at the appointment, not only for those absent but also for some of those present, it is better to think about having a very high level of concentration, try to play together, defend with great energy, limit lost balls, control rebounds, avoid prolonged moments of downturn.”

“Of course we have great respect for our opponent who already from the start is an experienced team, with great offensive potential especially in three-point shooting, evidenced by the fact that they are second in this specific statistic, and who is experiencing the typical moment of great enthusiasm and energy that is always produced when there is a change of coach, among other things with the arrival of an experienced coach like Neven Spahija. Plus they added a very good player and a great shooter like Ray. There is no doubt that our attention and concentration is on this game 100%: we are aware that it could be a long contest, as the Regular Season one was, which was resolved with only one point difference to our advantage. We have to be very patient, not expect any resolution before the final moments and have the coolness and lucidity, should a point-to-point final come, to play well as we have done most of the time. This we cannot take for granted but we must prepare ourselves to repeat it,” Scariolo concluded.