Dolomiti Energia Trentino, DJ Steward sends message to fans
After the success against Reyer Venezia, Dolomiti Energia Trentino is ready to face another battleship like Budućnost Voli Podgorica in EuroCup Round 11, scheduled for Tuesday night. It will be another tricky challenge for the Bianconeri, who have exclusively faced high-level opponents such as Ulm, Milan, Bourg-en-Bresse and Venice since the break, winning three of those four games. Budućnost faced JL Bourg-en-Bresse in France running into a bad night and coming out defeated 88-73, then redeemed themselves with a clear victory against the London Lions (94-63) and success in ABA Liga on the court of Perspektiva Ilirija (66-88).
There are 11 previous meetings between Dolomiti Energia Trentino and Budućnost Voli Podgorica, with eight wins by the Montenegrins and three by the Trentino. The first leg game saw the Bianconeri get the better of it, despite the absences of DJ Steward, Khalif Battle and Theo Airhienbuwa. Aquila Basket had won 96-107 thanks to an excellent third quarter (12-30) and a choral effort marked by great intensity and determination. Best on the court DeVante’ Jones with 24 points and 7 assists, followed by Jakimovski’s 15, Jogela, Niang and Bayehe’s 14 and Hassan’s 11. For Podgorica, Skylar Mays’s 22 points were not enough.
“We come from a great win against Venice and we will face Podgorica in a very short time. The crowd on Saturday was unbelievable-I would like it to be like that every game – admitted DJ Steward-because it gives us great energy, helps us go in the right direction and pushes us to play even harder for our community. In the first game I had not been able to play because of an injury; therefore, I am very motivated to do well. We want to continue this streak of positive results and to do so, we will have to continue on this favorable momentum, playing well and with great energy: with the momentum of the arena, we will try to win”.
“We are coming on a positive wave of results and feeling with our game, despite the absence of Mawugbe, who is a fundamental pivot for us in the way of being on the court – added Fabio Bongi -. We will move forward trying to build our opportunities and face this challenge with the memory of the first game, which was very positive from the mental point of view”.
“We have to start right from there, trying to confirm what we did well. We will need a solid performance from the whole team to compete against a very fierce opponent with a great desire to bring home the two points, which are essential to continue on their path to the top two places in the round” concluded the’assistant coach of the bianconeri.
