By Alex Molina / info@eurohoops.net
The victory against Baskonia meant far more than just a result on the scoreboard for Xavi Pascual’s team.
After a negative run of four consecutive defeats, the coach described the win as a turning point both mentally and competitively, highlighting the collective effort and the importance of several key players in what he considered almost a must-win game.
One of the standout names of the night was Joel Parra, whose performance did not go unnoticed by the coach, who praised his recovery after a difficult period.
“I’m very happy for Joel Parra, a very important player for us. With the problem with his nose and the mask his performance dropped a bit, but he’s on the way up again. I’m very happy for him.”
Pascual also stressed the importance of the victory given the context and the need to adapt to the demands of the game, even shortening the rotation.
“A very important win because of the negative streak we were on, with four defeats. We would like everyone to contribute more, but there are games like this, where you have to tighten the rotation to 7–8 players, and it worked for us in a game that was almost a final after four straight losses.”
However, not everything was positive after the game. Kevin Punter’s physical condition raised concern after he was forced to leave the court with discomfort, adding to the absence of Satoransky, who was unable to play due to back problems.
“About Kevin Punter… surely there is something serious, I don’t know how serious it will be. In the high adductor area, there is something there. When we get back to Barcelona we’ll do a more thorough assessment, but something is there. You’ve all seen how he left the court. Satoransky also couldn’t play because of back problems. We keep accumulating games, travel and tough matchups, and in the end things start to appear. We have to recover and keep going.”
With the Copa del Rey just around the corner, the situation becomes even more worrying, something Pascual openly admitted when asked about the possible impact of these injuries.
“I’m worried about the Copa del Rey being so close with these two injuries. It’s the first thing I thought of, honestly. It’s the first thing that came to my mind, if I have to be honest. Although I don’t know the course this injury will take.”
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