Oliveirense’s coach, João Figueiredo, was beaming after his team defeated FC Porto 83-78 to win the Hugo dos Santos Cup 2024/25.
Drenched from a water bath before the post-game interview, Figueiredo was thrilled with his team’s performance.
As the team prepares for the Liga Betclic playoffs next week, Figueiredo began looking ahead to the future.
“This is a special day for me,” he said.
“Our consistency since arriving has been key. I hope it shows the club how to compete at this level.”
Oliveirense’s Winning Formula
Figueiredo praised his team’s effort, saying they deserved credit for their strong three-point shooting in the first half.
FC Porto’s strong start, he noted, led to some complacency, which Oliveirense capitalized on.
The Oliveirense coach acknowledged that FC Porto’s physicality posed a challenge, both defensively and offensively.
However, he was proud of his team’s focus and collective effort, particularly from their Portuguese players.
Oliveirense opted to play with only four foreign players, compared to their rivals who had six or seven.
This decision, Figueiredo said, made it harder for his team, as they had to rely on their Portuguese players, who are often at a physical disadvantage against American players.
Despite this, the team showed great resilience and determination.
As for his own future, Figueiredo expressed his desire to coach a top team and potentially work abroad.
He also took a moment to reflect on the recent loss of his mother, making the recent Mother’s Day particularly meaningful.
Meanwhile, FC Porto’s coach, Fernando Sá, was disappointed with the loss, despite his team’s dominant performance earlier in the season.
“A final is a final,” he said. “There’s a winner, and Oliveirense deserved it.”
Sá acknowledged that his team struggled to recover after Oliveirense’s strong second quarter.
He praised Oliveirense’s offense, saying they were “tremendously effective” during that period.
The FC Porto coach took responsibility for the loss, saying, “The responsibility is mine.”
He vowed to prepare his team well for the remaining games, including the Liga Betclic final.