Speaking to Federico Bettuzzi for “Tuttosport”, the sporting director of APU Old Wild West Udine, Andrea Gracis, praised the great support of the public that constantly fills the PalaCarnera Credifriuli: “Our fans are very present and competent. They are becoming more and more passionate about the LBA where we win less than the A2, always demonstrating character. The team’s attitude has helped us a lot to maintain an internal balance in which the real pressure is fueled by the players. The president Pedestrian? He’s demanding and competitive, his stimuli are good for us.”
The Friulian team is now growing in the standings, as underlined by Gracis himself: “Since the summer we knew that we would have a difficult approach to the season. As newly promoted teams we had to face very strong teams and, after the debut in Reggio Emilia, we competed against Virtus, Brescia, Reyer, Tortona, losing against Bologna a match that we had deserved to win until extra time. We remained constantly competitive, remaining convinced that we had taken the right direction even if the results were not arrived. When the calendar offered us more affordable commitments, the team performed as we expected.”
There is also ample space for the choice to focus on coach Vertemati, considered strategic by the management: “Because he is the right combination of experience and ability. He worked a lot in A2, achieving excellent results in Treviglio. He was Trinchieri’s assistant in the Euroleague. He has always shown a high quality of work. I didn’t know him personally but he convinced both me and the president at the first interview. With him a great project was born which in two years took us to the LBA and now continues in the top league”.
Finally, a look at the objectives for the second round: “Let’s start by maintaining the category. Udine has worked so hard to get to where they are now, so our desire for salvation is peremptory. Then we can try to get some more satisfaction.”
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