By Cesare Milanti/ info@eurohoops.net
MALAGA, Spain – Despite digging their way out of a 15-point hole, Lenovo Tenerife ultimately fell narrowly short of overcoming spirited Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem in the Basketball Champions League Final Four Semifinals.
“We did everything to win. We improved in every situation, but not in our percentages. Our percentages for three were probably the worst of the BCL season,” head coach Txus Vidorreta referred to his side shooting 5/22 from beyond the arc Friday evening, “We had more rebounds, more steals, fewer turnovers, we had more efficiency, but our percentage from three was the main damage.”
“We knew the opponent would be tight in the paint to prevent Fran Guerra and especially Giorgi Shermadini from scoring. We needed to move the ball and share from inside to outside. But we didn’t feel well in our finishes,” added the experienced tactician in the postgame press conference, “We will see that we missed at least 12 three-pointers completely alone.”
“You got to give them credit. Well-coached team, they came out, played hard, and fought,” said Elgin Cook representing the players of the Canary Islands outfit and also stressing struggles from three-point range, “I think we had some great looks. We made some in the second half. We still fought hard and competed, ending up losing the game in the final seconds.”
Vidorreta, 56, also sent his condolences to opposing head coach Aleksandar Dzikic for the loss of his mother, a few days before the Final Four.
Losing a Champions League Semifinal for the first time in team history, the two-time BCL champions will play for third place to complete the continental campaign Sunday.
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League