Olimpia, a wild Super Cup final. Poeta: “I can’t make it to the end like this”

“I can’t make it to the end like this…”: This comment by Coach Peppe Poeta best sums up the Super Cup final, which Olimpia Milano won in overtime against Venezia: “I’m happy because we brought home a trophy—it’s not something to be taken for granted. Putting it on the trophy shelf gives us confidence and enthusiasm. I’m extremely pleased with the first 15 minutes—we were rock-solid and disciplined. Then we got a little too flashy and let Venezia claw their way back and get their hopes up; they made some tough shots in the second half and played well, too.”

“They deserve credit too—it’s not just our shortcomings. But we played well; when you lose momentum, you have to regain it, and we did so with an experienced starting five and three point guards.” This marks the fourth consecutive title won in Italy by the Red-and-Whites: “We’re happy. It’s never a given. Last year, not all the favorites in Europe won. We know that and we don’t shy away from it, but actually winning them is a different story.”

He commented on Cole and Thompson’s situation: “There’s work to be done. Cole has played well, but they need to learn to perform with fewer possessions and in fewer minutes. That’s where their adjustment to the level here comes in. This year, you might only get 7 or 8 pick-and-rolls, and you have to make the most of them. But I have extreme confidence in both of them. Cole struggled at the start in both the Champions League and the EuroCup, but he’s always ended up doing very well. He’s highly adaptable; I hope he can do the same here. Like Burnell and Mathews, who are rookies at this level. They need to get a feel for the nuances of the game.”