The Bages team is looking for its first European title in the ‘final four’ in Bilbao
ManresaThirty-two years after winning his first European title, a Korac, with the Joventut de Badalona, Pedro Martínez is leading this weekend the project of a Baxi Manresa that competes in the final four of the Basketball Champions League in Bilbao. Encouraged by almost 2,500 Catalans, the Bages team will be looking for a European title that will round off a historic season. “It’s no secret. We have a good feature, which is that we’re competitive. We’ve got a lot of mentality from a lot of players. We’re amazed at the results we’re having, and I’m the first one. We’re above what I expected when “We did the team and when we started training. I could say things we did and things we had planned to do, but it’s not. There are players who are above the level we expected. I say that, but also “It’s all about the chemistry of the team, getting along with each other. We have young players who want to get a better financial contract, and other players who are old.” of maturity, others of veterans who give us a lot of balance in the day to day … All this, which you do not know how it will go when you start, has gone well, and therefore with humility and enthusiasm, but above all I hope we are a little lucky too, “said the Badalona coach.
The coach is aware that he is making history, but he draws on the tradition of a club that loves basketball like few others. “I am proud to be part of Manresa. I have been there at different times and I am proud to have helped the club to make these things happen. Baxi Manresa has history, ambition and humility, and I am proud of it, but my importance is the same as the president, the players or the fans, “he argues.
The rival of Baxi Manresa in the semifinals this Friday (9 pm, Esport3 and DAZN) will be Riesen Ludwigsburg, a very atypical team that plays without much respect for the classic positions of basketball. “Last year they played the final phase and this year they also fit in a lot of things well, like us. I see that it is a team that has an identity, does good basketball and is very physical. Defensively, they do things very well, “They push the ball, they’re proactive in the back. In attack they have three or four players who have the most prominent roles, who play one-on-one and a spectacular block and continuation. It’s a very well-trained team,” said Martinez. The coach will have the safe casualties of Dani García and Guillem Jou. Sylvain Francisco will be able to play, but not 100%, and Dani Pérez’s recovery makes him suffer a little more.
“The excitement is back”
“The state of mind is unknown. We don’t know what we will find and we have to manage the situation as best we can to arrive calmly, but also with strength and drive. The last time we were in a similar situation, that It was in the Copa del Rey, the over-excitement didn’t go well for us, there are tactical and sensational unknowns. but what we have to value is to have been in the Cup, to be in the final four of the Champions League and to have qualified for the play-off four days from the end “, remembers Martínez.
“It’s a special weekend for the club because for the first time in its history it has qualified for a European finals. It’s something we won’t be able to do every year and so we’re living the moment with a lot of In Manresa, there is talk of basketball again and the topic of conversation is the final four. We have to live this moment with caution, because it is a very difficult goal and the rivals are very competitive. Our goal is to compete and give our best “, says Josep Sàez, the president of Baxi Manresa.
“Our goal is not to make history but to win games, compete and make people have fun and want to return to the Nou Congost. The enthusiasm of the people of Manresa has returned,” adds Sàez.
