Is everything easy? Never tell that to a coach. Who, rightly, knows how to weigh the matches. And the win with a 20 point difference against Cento is certainly different from the one that awaits Cantù in Cividale on Friday. But it is right to give credit to Cantù, who faced a team hungry for points, but who were immediately weakened with excellent initial management: «It was a good match – began Brienza in the press room -; we were good in the first two quarters at giving direction, a little less at refueling in the third period. Despite this, we have always been in control.”
There were many positive things shown by S.Bernardo over the 40 minutes: «It seems to me that everyone expressed themselves well, at excellent levels, in terms of concentration. Good for everyone and for what the team did, in terms of concentration. I saw the desire to pass the ball and, in general, the desire to play together, also building good solutions in attack and defense.”
There were practically no dangers, except for an attempt to return at the beginning of the third quarter: «It is important to carry out treacherous games like these with authority. If you give your opponent the chance to believe in a comeback, you often risk creating avoidable problems. I must say that the right approach was decisive. Now it’s time to think about the difficult trip to Cividale.”
It was a first test, on paper and in reality, not insurmountable. A test in which, for the first time, McGee was missing, injured in Livorno. An absence that was not felt: «We have experienced players and quality young players. Without McGee everyone has raised the bar, I’m particularly happy about this. We were good as a team at giving a certain line to the match. I’m not saying it was easy, but when you start like this everything becomes easier. We also managed and overcame a minimum of difficulty in a second half that started with a 0/4 to Basile’s free throws, which isn’t the best. Not bad, but we are sure that Friday in Friuli will be tougher.”
