Demis Cavina: “Determined and concentrated to face Trieste”
With three full days between the decisive game 5 of the series against Mantua and the start of the quarter-finals with Trieste (game 1 will be played on Monday 15 May at 21pm at PalaOltrepò), the weather at Derthona is today more than ever an enemy to defend against. Between preparing for the new challenge and recovering psycho-physical energy, the Bianconeri's race is a real chase. Coach Cavina knows this well, but, as has often happened this year, looks ahead in search of the best solution to the problems: “The series with Mantova – specifies coach Cavina – was long, hard and fought and certainly took away many energy also given the less than perfect athletic condition of some of our boys; However, he has given us a lot of experience, especially in these types of matches, which are anything but similar to those of the regular season".
The Juventus coach's analysis immediately focuses on Trieste: "In these few days that separate us from the first match we have focused on some offensive details to be sorted out, also retracing the last moments of game 5, perhaps too troubled compared to the progress of the match entire race. We are very determined and concentrated and in this sense the passage of the round has cemented our feelings."
The opponent is of great caliber: “We face a very deep team, which plays like last year with great physical and mental toughness. To the nucleus that we met in the last playoffs, they have added a lot of experience with the arrival of Da Ros, Cittadini and Cavaliero who, together with Pecile, act as mother hen to a group that is on average very young".
Meanwhile, training continues with some unwelcome hitches: “We are continuing the treatments on the wrist of Giampaolo Ricci, who is still carrying out differentiated work, while the last-minute problem is the problem with Davide Alviti's finger, already absent in game 5. However, these problematic aspects can be tackled together, as a team, and with the strong push that can also come from our fans in the stands: we had asked them for a great contribution to overcome Mantua and in this sense Thursday's match is proof that this energy fuels our game."
It is Valerio Cucci who measures the group's morale: “Trieste is a different team from Mantua – explains the Roman big man – which makes aggression, speed and high pace its strength; their roster, even more so after the addition of Cavaliero, is deep and complete, with many guards to be able to alternate and the experience of Cittadini under the basket. We face them with all the enthusiasm that the series with Mantua gave us, leveraging the support of our fans and the possibility of playing the first matches of the series at home. I am convinced that, if we know how to manage the emotions and great motivations that each of us will put forward, we will be able to have our say to the end."
