By Alex Molina/ info@eurohoops.net
Unicaja Malaga fell short of reaching the Basketball Champions League final after losing to AEK in the first semifinal of the Final Four, in a game marked by the offensive struggles of the Malaga team.
After the match, Unicaja‘s coach Ibon Navarro analyzed the keys to the defeat with self-criticism, but also highlighted the competitive spirit of his players despite the difficulties.
“It’s not easy to explain our errors; the good thing is that despite this lack of accuracy, we were able to maintain our defensive level. In the final minutes, when you miss so much, it’s not easy to keep the energy. We had chances to get back into it, but their players stepped up, and we ran out of options.”
Despite the setback of missing the final, the coach wanted to emphasize his team’s attitude during the match.
“Obviously, despite the difference and the problems, the team showed character and energy. We also had a good defensive level, which we need to hold onto. We need to get players back in the groove and regain confidence,” he explained.
Navarro particularly focused on the offensive problems that plagued Unicaja throughout most of the game.
“We lacked accuracy; we had many moments with broken play where we weren’t able to do things right. We needed to pass the ball better, maintain advantages…”
The Unicaja coach also described how their lack of accuracy ended up affecting the team’s defensive work:
“If you don’t make open shots from good shooters or even under the basket, it’s not easy to maintain energy. There comes a point where it’s difficult to keep suffering from the first second because you can’t organize your defensive balance after a basket.”
In addition to the sporting analysis, Navarro left a message directed at the Martín Carpena fans, aware of the emotional impact of such an elimination after the club’s recent successes.
“We feel like we owe them something. They’ve given us so much over the past few years, especially at home,” he stated.
The coach acknowledged that the weight of expectations might also be affecting some players.
“These past three seasons have gone very well, and now I notice that there are some players with the pressure that they can’t make them as happy,” he explained before making a clear request to the Málaga fans: “Right now, we’re at a point where they need to love us because we need it.”
Read the full article here
