By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The Basketball Champions League Final Four will tip off with the duel between Hapoel U-NET Holon and Lenovo Tenerife on May 6th and the two sides were participating in the press conference to start the event.
Hapoel Holon coach Guy Goodes was present together with Guy Pnini for their team and both made sure to highlight the importance of qualifying for the tournament for the first time in club history.
For coach Goodes, one win was crucial to spark a season like this.
“We were close to getting eliminated in the play-in games but that game in Turkey against Besiktas that we won gave us confidence. We went back and qualified for the group. Nobody gave us a shot at the top spots of the group but we fought and took it step by step. We fought, believed, and finished in the first place,” the coach said and added.
“We’re the first Israeli club to reach the Final Four. It’s a big thing for us and tomorrow a thousand fans will come to cheer for the team. This is Hapoel Holon atmosphere and history, and we will try to take the next step.”
Pnini echoed those words.
“It’s a very exciting moment for us to be here. We started our BCL journey five years ago and in the first three years it was tough for us. The club and the organization learned and adjusted. Last year, when we made it to the Top 8, it was a big achievement for us and I’m happy that we made the next step.”
His rival from Tenerife Marcelinho Huertas spoke about their age and that it’s just a number. The fire that drives them is what matters.
“It’s what drives us. Being here and having the opportunity to each this far and play in such a competition like this Final Four. There’s nothing more exciting than making it here and feeling a little bit of anxiety before the game, being ready, and feeling pumped for another big challenge. I’m pretty sure if we didn’t feel it at this stage of our career, we wouldn’t be here anymore. New opportunities and no matter how old we are, we are still hungry and it shows. We are still here for a reason and hopefully, we can stay here much longer.”
Coach Txus Vidorreta will play the Final Four in his hometown of Bilbao and he’s very happy with the opportunity.
“It’s something we can do. Sometimes we play well, sometimes not so well. We have to be able to win at least in the end. But we are happy that we’re here. It’s our fifth time in six years and now all we have to think about is our opponent. They are here and they deserved it. They beat Strasbourg, they were in the first position in the Top 16. It’s not the moment to look in the past. We have to move on and think about the next game,” and added a bit of a joke.
“We usually enjoy it when we win. When we don’t – then we don’t enjoy it. It’s the same for all four guys (coaches) here.”