By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Both Sarunas Jasikevicius and Giorgos Bartzokas turned the focus to the future and the bottom stretch of respective 2021-22 campaigns at the domestic level. Before departing Serbia, FC Barcelona beat Olympiacos in the third-place game of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four.
“The feeling is not a lot better right now but it is still a little bit nicer,” admitted the Lithuanian play-caller of the Catalonia club regarding the feelings after the loss to ACB rival Real Madrid on Thursday, “There were some positives for us, especially Cory Higgins playing so many minutes. That is so important for us. Hopefully, he can catch some rhythm and be the Cory Higgins we know.”
Higgins, 32, forced to sit out most of the season due to two separate injuries, registered 11 points in 22 minutes. Moving to the Liga Endesa Playoffs, top-seeded Barca would certainly enjoy a potential boost provided by the Colorado alumnus.
“For me, the most important is to make the opponent work for everything,” Jasikevicius followed up on Thursday’s postgame press conference, “The killer instinct, we are trying to get it. A lot of times we lose the leads in the games. You have to kill the other team. If a good team gets the chance, it will come back.”
On the losing end of the third-place contest, Bartzokas discussed Giorgos Printezis likely bowing out and the 2022-23 squad as well.
“I think Giorgos Printezis was blessed to feel the appreciation of the fans in that way, probably in his last game in Europe with Olympiacos,” he mentioned after thanking the fans for their support while dominating the stands in Belgrade’s Stark Arena.
“Our additions to the squad will be two or three players. Quality players to help the current squad,” he added replying to a question about the next season.
Watch the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague third-place postgame press conference:
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net