Benfica was eliminated from the Portuguese Basketball Cup by SC Braga in the Luz pavilion, losing to the Minho team 81-82 in the round of 16 of the premier competition.
After the match, the coach of the four-time national champions, Norberto Alves, explained the defeat, Benfica’s first at home in two years and one month (721 days).
«First thing: they won with great merit. We did poorly, particularly in the effectiveness of outside shooting, we only had 14%. We didn’t start the game well, we somehow let them, who were coming from a positive series of victories, with quality players, we had said that before the game… we let them be in the game”, the coach began by stating.
«We managed, in a moment, to turn the game around again, but we never really managed to close the game, so to speak. When the game drags on until the last seconds, it can go either way, but, as I said, they won deservedly,” he said.
«We have to look at ourselves, of course. We also had a difficult week, with some injuries. A very important player for us, Justice Sueing, was also left out, he could give us some athleticism that we lacked today, but not taking away what is their merit”, reinforced Norberto Alves.
«They started well, they always believed, and when it’s like that, we have to congratulate our opponent. It’s not a good moment for us, it’s a competition that we failed. We knew we were going to have a difficult game, even due to the circumstances, as I said, that we were working with, but we also felt that we played below our level and the level they played at. [benfiquistas] They deserve that we always play”, concluded the 57-year-old coach.
