The words of the two coaches, Ettore Messina from Milan and Paolo Galbiati from Trento, after their clash in game 1 of the quarter-finals of the LBA playoffs:
ETTORE MESSINA:
“Trento deserved the victory regardless of the fact that it came in the last possession. We started well in the first quarter and from then on we played extremely poor defense, where we didn’t help ourselves, we suffered rebounds and we suffered mentally. In attack, 84 must be enough to win even if we had an untidy performance there too. We’re down, we have to try to turn the series around.”
On the decision to give up a big man to include Billy Baron in the 12: “Trento had two players in the area, then for the rest he played with four wingers. I believe and are convinced that we need an extra guard. I think Hines and Melli are enough to limit Cooke. If Melli and Hines aren’t enough to play against Cooke we have a problem and it’s not like we add another big man.
On the nervousness among the players on the pitch: “They know perfectly well that we have already experienced these things during the year and we have to cut back, otherwise it will be difficult to win the series with Trento. We are not here to have good training sessions but to win matches.”
PAOLO GALBIATI:
«In the first half we were exposed to their great physicality and the high shooting percentages of their attack: we asked the team to stay there with their heads and continue to fight and play our basketball, we returned and throughout the second half it was a long question and answer. In the end it was resolved by the play of a great player. We leave the Forum happy because there was a good spirit, good involvement of everyone, great attention to what we had prepared. In two days we will be asked to repeat ourselves. A special mention for Captain Forray, an inspiring man and player for this group of young people.”
