The coach of Gran Canaria, Jaka Lakovicassured that the lenovo tenerife was deserving of going to the semifinals of the Copa del Reyafter the victory this Friday at the Olímpic (89-73), and regretted having missed free shots when they tried to come back in the second half, something that the people of Tenerife did not forgive.
“In the second half we tried to get back into the game. In the last quarter we had enough free shots to get into the game but we missed them, and the Tenerife I do not forgive. The match was decided. We weren’t doing well, without detracting from Tenerife, which was very good,” he said at a press conference.
Lakovic assured that he leaves “disappointed with the result”, but not with the players. “They entered the game well and they always want to do their best, they wanted to win. But we didn’t. I’m disappointed with the result but not with my players, although they could have done better”, he opened up.
congratulate the opponent
For this reason, he wanted to congratulate the rival and highlight, as a positive note, his entry into the game. “We started quite well, fresh and successful. The problem was letting Tenerife enter the game with good feelings. In the second quarter, when we had a break, Tenerife used sensations and confidence and scored a lot, the game escaped us,” he lamented.
“We wanted to be aggressive and stop their creation, several times we had more desire than intelligence. Tenerife punished us even more and an advantage was created that they handled well,” he added in this regard.
In addition, to the February ‘MVP’ of the Endesa League, the forward Nicholas Brussino, they defended him “quite well”. So much so that he was left without scoring. “We couldn’t find him. Despite this, he played a good game both in defense and attack, creating play and not just scoring. We always need more points from Nico but with his play creation and direct block he did well. The only one who created from ‘pick and roll'”, he clarified.
“I don’t know if we deserved to get more into the game. As a coach it was my first Cup, I faced it as a single match. I want to return next year. We couldn’t score baskets to get closer. We tried to compete, respect the tournament and the rival and compete until the end. But the credit goes to Tenerife”, he concluded.
