Benfica coach Norberto Alves wasn’t exactly thrilled after his team’s Champions League loss to Gran Canaria. Still, he saw a silver lining. His squad managed to rally in the second half, offering a glimpse of their real potential.
Alves admitted the first half was a tough pill to swallow. “We started poorly,” he said. “That first half felt frustrating.” The team struggled against their opponent’s strong physical play. However, something clicked after the break. “We found energy in the second half,” Alves noted. Benfica even managed to win the second half by four points. “We were more aggressive, more united, and our defensive communication improved,” he explained. Alves believes his team works hard, pushing their limits. But he stated clearly, “we played below what we can do.” He finished with a promise: “We will correct it.”
Guard Koby McEwen, who scored 17 points, echoed his coach’s feelings. He showed good things to the “Reds” (Benfica’s nickname) coach. “We needed a better start,” McEwen said. “We can improve our defensive quality.” For McEwen, individual stats mean little. “The numbers don’t matter to me,” he declared. “I wanted to win. I hate to lose.”
Across the court, Gran Canaria’s coach, Jaka Lakovic, a Slovenian, was all smiles. “I congratulate my team for their great mentality,” Lakovic said. He added, “We prepared well for the game.”