By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Mario Hezonja was critical of coaching decisions during Round 3 of Spain’s Liga Endesa.
Surne Bilbao knocked down Real Madrid in Bilbao Arena, pushing the visitors to 1-2 in the domestic league on Sunday. At the continental level, the W-L tally is 1-1. On the wrong end of the championship game against Unicaja in late September, Los Blancos also lost Supercopa Endesa.
“We must sweat to win this year,” noted Hezonja in a postgame interview with Movistar Plus+, following the loss to Bilbao, “In defense, we started well, then we played more players, and the rhythm changed. It was difficult for the new players to adapt and for us to find chemistry.”
In the postgame press conference, head coach Chus Mateo pointed to harmony, hoping for better results in the next team showings.
“We could have been a lot less complacent in defense in the first half. In the second half, we had a better understanding of where we were going. We have to work hard, stay together, and keep working,” mentioned Mateo, “It is going to take us a bit longer, but we are going to be ready to try to do better. We have to be strong and united.”
The first double-game week of the 2024-25 EuroLeague Regular Season is up next for the team based in the capital of Spain. The demanding schedule stretches from visiting Baskonia and Pablo Laso on Tuesday to hosting defending champion Panathinaikos Aktor in WiZink Center on Thursday.