Campazzo: “It’s going to be a very demanding semifinal”

Facu Campazzo spoke to the media the day before traveling to Athens for the Final Four of the EuroLeague. The point guard said: “We are really looking forward to Friday, but we are also enjoying and trying to make the most of these two or three training days before the Final Four. We aim for quality training sessions that help us and resemble as much as possible what Valencia will be like on Friday. Everything becomes increasingly tactical as the game approaches. I see the group with confidence, a lot of motivation, and eager for it to start already.”

“It’s a one-game situation. Three of the four possible titles are decided in a single game, so we know what a Final Four like this represents. We worked for eight or nine months for this moment, and now we’re in a semifinal. We have to value what we’ve done throughout the year, but there’s still a road ahead. It seems short, but it might be what takes the biggest mental toll. At this moment, where there’s more responsibility and pressure, the team is more united than ever. We close ranks among ourselves to build confidence and arrive in the best possible way. It’s also important to take advantage of having players who have experienced this situation several times. Relying on that experience helps us play with more composure.”

Absences and experience: what matters more?
“I don’t think one outweighs the other. Both are very important factors. One we don’t have, and the other we do, so we must take advantage of and enhance what we have, combined with the enthusiasm of the newcomers to achieve an important goal. All of this will help the team take a step forward and compensate for the significant absences of Len and Tavares, who represent a large part of our defense and offense. We need to capitalize on the experience of those who have been through this before and try to make up for those absences with intensity, intelligence, and experience.”

Expectations
“It’s going to be a very demanding semifinal. They play at a very dynamic pace, with many possessions, high speed, and a lot of physicality. We have our own rhythm, and we’ll try to impose it. Everything that happened before against Valencia remains in the statistics, but when the semifinal starts, it’ll be fifty-fifty for both teams. The team that pays more attention to detail in difficult moments, plays with more intelligence, and demonstrates better basketball will be the one that wins.”

Personal moment
“I feel very good. In every Final Four I’ve played, I arrived the way I needed to and tried to contribute in whatever role I was given, whether from the bench or playing. Today, I might have a bit more responsibility. I’ll try to be in good physical condition, make good decisions, be aggressive, and control what depends on me: defending hard, bringing intensity to the defense, and spreading that energy to the team. I come into this moment feeling good both physically and mentally, and I hope I can contribute all of that for the team’s benefit.”

 

Deck: “We’ve prepared all year for this”
“Looking forward to Friday’s game. We’ve prepared all year for this. Hopefully, everything will go as well as possible. We have to be intense from minute 1 to 40. We need to focus on doing things well both in offense and defense, staying closer together than ever, and stepping up collectively to handle the challenges we face. We’re going to do well. We’re in the best part now, and hopefully, everything turns out great.”

His moment
“Happy to be healthy and enjoying this week, preparing everything to arrive in the best possible way. Always trying to give my best for the team.”

Garuba: “We’re mentally prepared”
“I’m very excited for my first Final Four. I’m eager and ready. With the absences, we need to take on more responsibility, but I’m very motivated to face it, and it will be very special for everyone. I see the team very focused and happy that we’re finally in the week of the Final Four. We’ve had time to prepare, and we’re very happy and mentally ready. It’s basketball, and we know our opponent is just as eager. It will be a great game.”

Key factors
“We’ve gotten this far because of teamwork. We’ve been collectively strong, and I can contribute what I’ve been bringing to these kinds of games. Looking forward to being in Athens already.”

Disclaimer: Translation generated by artificial intelligence. It may contain inaccuracies.