The words of coach Paolo Galbiati, coach of Dolomiti Energia Trentino.
On the team’s journey.
«We started with the aim of saving ourselves as soon as possible. The championship was more than difficult to face, but in the end we are where we all dreamed of being: we tried to create our identity, to realize a philosophy, to create a new culture compared to the past. It was a stimulating and complex year, in which however we never really gave up: now we begin a new part of our journey with the aim of being a loose cannon in these playoffs.”
On the playoff quarter-final against Olimpia Milano.
«Matches that are in some ways easy to prepare for, in which we face a deep, strong, experienced team. But in the two regular season games we showed that we can worry them; a little less in the previous third of the season, the quarter-finals of the Italian Cup, in which they always got us. We will have to be as ready, as quick and as careful as possible: then the pitch will speak, but we will try. We will play as an underdog: it’s in our spirit.”
On moments of difficulty in the season.
«The club has always been very close to us, without hysteria: I think of Andrea Nardelli, the general manager, and Rudy Gaddo, the sporting director; but also to all the club’s top management, the President, the Board of Directors. We kept the bar straight. There were constant comparisons, even tough ones every now and then, but it’s part of the game. But we continued to work doing what we believed in, overcoming all the injuries, absences and misfortunes.”
On the arrival of Hommes.
«We will play with the current full roster. Hommes has fitted in very well on a human level, and on a technical level he knows what he can give us. Maybe he still lacks a bit of leg but in a selected number of minutes he can contribute in many ways to the team’s game, also because he has a great desire to play: he has shot, experience, desire.”
On the motivations of Milan.
«It’s a team that has an important objective, which has had many problems and injuries during the season: now I expect a very aggressive Milan, ready to harpoon its last objective of the season. They want to win, we will take to the field to prevent it.”
Aquila Basket Trento press office
