Bartzokas: «I told them to hold their heads high and be proud»

The defeat in the final mainly the way it came, ‘hurt’ Giorgos Bartzokas and his players, in no case though was it capable to take away their sense of pride for everything they have accomplished in the season.

“It was an amazing final four for everyone. The result is painful, but it was our pleasure to be here. As for the game, I don’t have much to say. We were ahead, we controlled the tempo against the zone defense Real was playing, we had very good decisions against it, we found many open shots. In the last two-three minutes, we had the chance to finish the game, but we missed open shots, made turnovers and Real’s experience kept them close to the score. At the end, Rodriguez’s three and Llull’s bucket, which came under asphyxiating pressure by our defense, gave them the lead. The feeling hurts, we are sad for us, for the fans that traveled all the way to here. We fought at every chance we had, throughout the season, we finished the regular season in the first place, we qualified for the final four and then to the final, and we were leading the score in the final almost through the entire game. We lost to a buzzer beater last year, that’s basketball, it’s only that we were at the receiving end of it. Congratulations to Real and Chus Mateo”.

Asked what he told his players after the end of the game, he replied: “Everyone’s heads were facing the floor. I told them to hold their heads high and be proud for the way we worked and supported one another. That’s basketball though. Sometimes, you need to also have some luck. I can’t say more, I don’t want to start talking about budgets. What we presented was a strong, tough team. We were just unlucky at the end. I told them we have one more title to win, we must close the season the best way possible”.