By Alex Madrid / amadrid@eurohoops.net
BILBAO – Lenovo Tenerife will seek to lift its second Basketball Champions League trophy against BAXI Manresa after overcoming a difficult semifinal tie against Hapoel Holon on Friday.
“It was a difficult game,” Bruno Fitipaldo told Eurohoops. “As much as I think we pretty much dominated it down the stretch, they came back. They have a lot of quality but we are very happy to reach another final. There’s one step left, but it’s a big one. The important thing is to recover well and prepare for the game because we only have one day to do so“.
The Israeli team took its first lead of the game in the last quarter but the reaction of Marcelinho Huertas and Lenovo Tenerife was impressive: “We knew it could happen, they are a team of streaks and they had an important one at that moment. They made it happen. At that moment the team showed its face. Marce supported us in offense at an important moment and in defense, the team’s work followed the same line as all year. We have to do it once again on Sunday“.
Canarias had to face an adverse atmosphere in the semifinals and will also have the majority of the stands against them in the final: “Many people came from Tenerife as well and we know how difficult is to come from there. We are very happy and grateful for the support we have received all year long everywhere we played. So we hope to give them great joy on Sunday”.
Photo credit: BCL