Luca Banchi consoles Olimpia Milan
The words of Luca Banchi
Coach Luca Banchi spoke after the win against Olimpia Milano: "First of all I want to congratulate Milan who played a’very good game and I think both teams gave a great performance tonight, a game that I was happy to coach, a beautiful game to play and a spectacular game to watch. I think it’s fair to start by congratulating our opponents, who came to Bologna to play the best game of their season with great concentration and discipline, a high level of execution and defensive effort, top team-like. I am very happy with the way we responded, at the same level. I am very proud of our players, who made great efforts to turn this dangerous night into a special night. I thank the players again for playing a great game, and I hope the fans are happy and proud of this win".
" I think we could not have competed without everyone’s participation and this common sense of urgency that è turned into the sacrifice of doing things that on paper did not seem possible. We were in a physical gap on most defensive pairings, that happens a lot when you play against Milan. You try to make up for it with aggressiveness, we did that very well the second period by changing the inertia of the game and starting with certain details like pressure on the ball and defensive aggressiveness by opening up the court well. It’ was important the accuracy of Abi, but at the same time also the initiatives of the little ones who managed to penetrate Milan’s defense with continuity, which until that moment seemed an impregnable fortress. What è happened before the game I think is a due act of respect towards the opponent, of great consideration that there’s towards him, esteem and admiration. I have only been here a short time, if I did not know the history of this club I could not project it into the future. I have absolute respect for history because èè for me èè an inspiration. There’è much of Sasha here, much of Sergio, but when I see the V I think of Dan Peterson, of Porelli, of Messina, of Alberto Bucci. To have the privilege of getting on the court alongside him for me è an honor. He doesn’t have to thank me, it’s us who thank him because è we experienced this night as something unique and special. Every night that you play a Euroleague game or you face teams like Milan with certain champions or you face a coach like him è it is only right that you reflect on the privilege that you are experiencing".
Fitting comment on Dobric’s defensive performance: “He did a good job offensively as well. We were able to get in and touch the area and he è was one of those who best è managed to do that especially in the second period, and that gave us oxygen. Defensively he turned up the heat, very good also Alessandro putting pressure on the dribbler but then he did a great job on the passing lines and from those fouled balls came easy baskets that were oxygen" for us.
