Comments from Giannis Kastritis ahead of the Pallacanestro Openjobmetis Varese-APU Old Wild West Udine game:
«McDowell-White is finally back training with the team: he just completed his second full practice with the group. As I always say, we need to manage this phase with intelligence, caution, and patience. He’s been out for many weeks, and we need to figure out the best way to gradually bring him back into games as well. We have three consecutive games coming up next week, so we’ll assess the situation patiently, looking for the best solution—first and foremost for him, and then for the team—so he can get back to playing alongside his teammates. I’ve always had a lot of respect for Udine, as well as their coaching staff, who are doing an excellent job. They’re a solid team, very well-coached, and with a clear vision of what they want to achieve during the game. We’re facing another opponent that’s very dangerous on the offensive boards, but also in the way they attack and defend. So we’ll need to make sure we play our game, execute the game plan, and maintain—no matter the situation—our hunger and strong motivation for every possession. It’s a decisive factor in every game, even more so in this one, after our three wins and the excellent week we’ve had. Our priority is to show that we still have the same hunger and the same motivation. I have to be honest: we haven’t changed anything in our approach, and the guys have worked very hard these past few days. We’re on a journey where we can still expect ups and downs. We’re continuing to get to know our team and ourselves, learning to understand how we react in both difficult and more favorable circumstances. After the losses, we had a week to work, and we bounced back with three consecutive wins. Now we have to prove that we can maintain the same rhythm and the same character even after our successes. That’s why I place so much emphasis on motivation and hunger. We need to reach a point where we aren’t emotionally swayed by the result—whether we win or lose—and continue to work every day like machines, even though we’re human beings, bringing that same attitude onto the field. Reaching that level would be ideal. The guys, however, have worked very well this week, and that makes me optimistic».