Chus Mateo: “The team looks in good shape and is looking forward to playing a good first game”
'We have to be ready as it's going to be a very tough tie against Joventut', explained Yabusele.
Chus Mateo and Yabusele discussed the first game of the League semifinals Tuesday, 9pm CEST. The coach commented on the playoffs against Joventut: 'I think the team looks in good shape and is looking forward to the playoffs and playing a good first game. We can't go beyond that. We're playing against a great team, who play really well and have had a very good series in the quarters'.
'They're a team that know each other very well, with key players at the point guard position, shooters, a centre like Tomic and a very complete inside game. Guy is a very dangerous player, as he proved against Baskonia. But we can't focus on just one player as there are a lot more, such as Feliz, Parra... We must defend as a team unit because they've got a lot of offensive options. We have to be prepared for every situation'.
Twelve wins in a row
'Streaks or no streaks end here. It doesn't matter. We have a semi-final game ahead of us. We're on a good run of course, but the most important thing is to focus on the next game.
'They're a team that know each other very well, with key players at the point guard position, shooters, a centre like Tomic and a very complete inside game. Guy is a very dangerous player, as he proved against Baskonia. But we can't focus on just one player as there are a lot more, such as Feliz, Parra... We must defend as a team unit because they've got a lot of offensive options. We have to be prepared for every situation'.
Twelve wins in a row
'Streaks or no streaks end here. It doesn't matter. We have a semi-final game ahead of us. We're on a good run of course, but the most important thing is to focus on the next game.
The centre position
'We're training with Poirier but I have a feeling that we're going to have to wait a bit longer. I hope he's ready soon. We will have to give everything in this semi-final and Tavares will have to play for as long as we need him. His teammates have covered that position very well'.
Yabusele: 'We have to match Joventut's energy'
'We've had a few days to train and we're ready. They're a great team, who play with a lot of energy. We're at home and we have home court advantage and that should be a big factor. We're expecting a tough tie against a Joventut team who're having a great season. We're going to give it our all. We must be prepared, match their energy and focus on the first game'.
Momentum of the game
'We have to keep working the same way. We're feeling good and playing very well as a team. We want to win the league. We're going to try to end the season on a high note. This team deserves it'.
'We're training with Poirier but I have a feeling that we're going to have to wait a bit longer. I hope he's ready soon. We will have to give everything in this semi-final and Tavares will have to play for as long as we need him. His teammates have covered that position very well'.
Yabusele: 'We have to match Joventut's energy'
'We've had a few days to train and we're ready. They're a great team, who play with a lot of energy. We're at home and we have home court advantage and that should be a big factor. We're expecting a tough tie against a Joventut team who're having a great season. We're going to give it our all. We must be prepared, match their energy and focus on the first game'.
Momentum of the game
'We have to keep working the same way. We're feeling good and playing very well as a team. We want to win the league. We're going to try to end the season on a high note. This team deserves it'.