From BZ/dpa
At Alba on Thursday evening after the Euroleague bankruptcy in Valencia, there was mainly one realization: the energy of the Berliners is not endless.
“We’ve already paid tribute in the last few weeks, when we had to play a lot of games with a decimated squad,” said the Alba manager Marco Baldi after the clear 73:87 defeat.
The Berlin Bundesliga club was able to successfully compensate for the many absences with a deep squad for a while, but this was no longer possible against Valencia.
Five failures cannot be coped with in the long run. “Freshness, liveliness, concentration. All those things that you can’t compensate with will. It became apparent that we are not at the highest level there,” said Baldi.
Also trainers Israel Gonzalez admitted: “We know that we are in a very difficult situation.” It is therefore important for the manager that the team sticks to the things that make it strong – above all the team spirit. “But I’m not worried about that,” he said.
Alba coach Israel Gonzalez (archive photo)
Because the top game of the basketball Bundesliga is already scheduled for the Berliners on Sunday. Then Alba has to compete with the Rostock Seawolves (6 p.m.). Like the German champions, the promoted team is still undefeated.
And Baldi has great respect for the opponent. “They do a very good job. There’s a lot of euphoria and support now, and the team carries that. You don’t go into the race fearful, but inspired. That makes them strong and that’s why it will be a very difficult game for us,” said the 60-year-old.
Alba may then be able to hope for returnees like Jaleen Smith or Johannes Thiemann. However, Baldi warned against a hasty return: “We are still at the beginning of the season. We can’t always squeeze out the last and risk everything trying to throw in half-battered players.”