By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
VITORIA-GASTEIZ — Coach Dimitris Itoudis has led CSKA Moscow to another Turkish Airlines EuroLeague title but he noted that the players were fully focused and led themselves as much as he did: “A lot of times they are getting their timeouts and I didn’t call a timeout because I told them that they’re going to help. Come to the huddle over there every time there’s a free throw, the referee makes a call. They were ready to go. I was ready to let them run the timeout, Nando was talking in two timeouts.”
He had more praise for his players and their devotion to the game and sacrifices they made throughout teh season: “Congratulations to my players. We have a great group of competitors, a very united group of people with no personal agendas who have been sacrificing their bodies, free time, working extras, being devoted and ready to get criticized provoked and challenged every time.”
Itoudis also commented on opposing coach Ergin Ataman’s praise for not letting Sergio Rodriguez defend Efes backcourt too often and adjust his role: “For the player to accept the role and do whatever is needed is very important and it’s something we earn on a daily basis. The outstanding support that Chacho has to the system, that’s why I said nobody has a personal agenda. Nobody’s jumping over the umbrella of CSKA“