Alba coach Israel Gonzalez is particularly concerned about his team’s progress Photo: picture alliance/Nordphoto
By Oliver Knaack
Third game in the Euroleague for Alba. On Wednesday (8:30 p.m.) the Berliners have to play against the Italian runner-up Bologna. And meet an old friend there.
Ex-Albatross Jaleen Smith (28) moved to Emilia Romagna in the summer after two years in Berlin. But in the duel against Smith, Alba coach Israel Gonzalez will still have to do without his two centers Khalifa Koumadje (27) and Yanni Wetzell (27).
“Both are not ready to help us this week after their injuries,” he said Gonzalez at the final training session on Tuesday, going into the game with concerns. “We don’t have a Euroleague level yet. It’s just too early. It feels like we’re still preparing.”
ERx Alba professional Jaleen Smith now plays for Bologna Photo: picture alliance / nordphoto GmbH / Engler
His winger Louis Olinde (25) sees it similarly: “Of course we always want to improve compared to the previous year,” said Olinde. But the Hamburg native is also a realist: “It will be difficult this year because we have a lot of young, a lot of new players. It just takes time.”
Louis Olinde extended his contract by three years in the summer Photo: City-Press GmbH
For Gonzalez, the defeats in the Euroleague are not decisive – as long as his team learns something from them. “If we give 100 percent and win – perfect. If we give 100 percent and lose – it’s also perfect,” is his somewhat unusual explanation. “That’s the situation. We have to do our thing. The results will then also come in the Euroleague and we will no longer be the underdogs.”
Gonzalez is looking forward to seeing Smith again – it makes the game against the Italians a little easier: “We have a lot of information about him because we know him well,” said Gonzalez. “But we can’t just focus on one player. Bologna is a complete team that has many strengths.”