By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Luca Banchi was Simone Pianigiani’s assistant for six years during their time in Montepaschi Siena. However, tonight they were on the separated sides. It was a battle between a teacher and the student and this time it was a teacher who won the game.
Armani won the game and Banchi didn’t like that his team lost the last home game in the Euroleague.
“Me and the players, we are sorry. We wanted to win the last home game in this season’s Euroleague. The game was against a very competitive team who proved that they have sources, the players and the talent to play until the end. In the last minutes of the game, we had problems because we played without Nikos Zisis from the begging and in the end, we played without Ricky Hickmann. We struggled a little bit to contain the energy and aggressiveness of their guards. They scored too much, stated the Italian.
Bamberg lacked guards in their rotation as Banchi noted.
“On the other hand, we couldn’t keep the same sharpness and the same execution and the same ability to distribute the ball to find the right targets in the offense. We are sorry for the score, but we have to have a wider vision. Now, we just have to move our focus to the next appointment.”, said Banchi after a loss to Armani.
On the other side, Simone Pianigiani was happy with the effort his team has shown tonight.
“We are trying to play Euroleague until the end in a positive way. For us is important because we are a completely new team this season, everything is new. New technical staff, new players. It is important for us to show that like we did all the season to play on the same level also on the road against everybody.”
Pianigiani had no doubts that his team was a better side in the game against Bamberg.
“Tonight it was a good game, again. We played good on offense, we built good shots, we weren’t too smart on defense giving the Bamberg too much free-throws. In the last quarter, we stayed more focus Bamberg scored only 14 points in that period. We deserved to win this game. It is important for our confidence, for everything. It was our fifth win on the road in the Euroleague. We lost the chance to fight for playoffs, losing many games in one shot or in the last minutes” he concluded.