Final Eight, there’s Virtus Bologna-Olimpia Milano: Achille Polonara doesn’t mince words

Big match already in the quarters between Virtus Bologna and Olimpia Milano

The positions at the end of the first leg of the basketball championship meant that Virtus Bologna and Olimpia Milano, respectively fourth and fifth in the standings after 15 games, should clash already in the quarterfinals of the Final Eight of the Italian Cup scheduled in Turin from Wednesday, Feb. 12 to Sunday, Feb. 16.

The challenge between the two bigs è is highly anticipated and Achille Polonara, interviewed by 'Nettuno Bologna Uno', è already loaded: "We must try to face the game on Wednesday with the utmost concentration – he said -, aware of the fact that Milan è in a very good moment, but I am convinced that after the game with Tortona we also gained confidence and we must try to play as we did in Casale, so as a team and helping each other in the difficult moments that may happen during the match".

"Regardless of who is in front of you, whether it is Milan or a non-Euroleague team, every game in the Coppa Italia è tough – added the Black Vu veteran -, these are dry matches where every possession counts, every action è very important and the team that is more concentrated, the team that makes fewer mistakes manages to pass the round".

"The victory in Tortona gave us great confidence,” Polonara further explained, “we made a good collective effort where everyone brought their contribution. We played as a team both on offense and defense and we are preparing well for the Italian Cup. Obviously we wanted to win after the two defeats in the Euroleague and we did it, we responded well on the court and now we leave for Turin nicely charged".