The coach of the UCAM MurciaSito Alonso, focused a good part of his time on the press appearance after the match that his team lost 80-88 against Real Madrid at the Palacio de los Deportes on arbitration and on the difference in free throws taken.
“It is very difficult to be able to win a game with this difference in free throws and going with one taken and 29 from the rival, for the final 12-33, is something that I have never experienced in my sports career, neither in favor nor in against”said the grana coach, who wanted to congratulate his team for the effort made “in many phases of the game”. “The first 18 minutes of the match were great, but the last two of the first half penalized us and that was decisive against an opponent like Madrid”declared the man from Madrid.
In any case, Sito was left with the attitude of the team. “Despite everything we had a lot of belief in ourselves”he said to also refer to the support of the fans in a clash that brought together 7,500 spectators who filled the Palace. “There was an atmosphere in the stands that was very favorable to our team, more than in any other match against Madrid in the four years I’ve been here”he claimed.
Mateo: “In Murcia they always make it difficult for us”
Chus Mateo, coach of the real Madridstressed “the mentality” of their players to win in “a track where things are always difficult”that of UCAM Murcia, and valued the fact that “playing with the greats and aggressiveness in attack” to force as many personal fouls and go to the free throw line 33 times, 21 more times than his opponent.
“We started the second half well and took a good advantage in a difficult match that had to be taken out and we did it with a correct game. At the break we understood how they play, how tough they are and how high their physical level is. We matched that by being very focused at the start”, commented the white coach. The man from Madrid highlighted that his team should have “play more positional” and who attacked “really good” in the third quarter. “That allowed us to be calmer on a court where things always get difficult and I’m happy with the mentality of the boys, who were focused on a match that was already complicated before the Copa del Rey”he pointed.
In Mateo’s opinion it was key “control their shooters, who are really good” and be direct when attacking the hoop. “When you play with the greats and are aggressive in attack, you get more free kicks”he pointed out, alluding to the difference registered in the indicated fouls and, above all, in the free throws in favor of both sides.
