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Comments by Giannis Kastritis following Pallacanestro Openjobmetis Varese-APU Old Wild West Udine:

«It was a very strange game, and I’m not just saying that based on the statistics, but also because of the feeling we had right from the start. In the first half, we attacked very well—even better than we expected—while in the second half, we weren’t able to perform at the same level. Udine forced us into some offensive situations where we should have been more composed and smart, finding better solutions. We didn’t play with the same quality we’ve shown in recent games, although the 21 assists compared to just 7 turnovers still demonstrate a certain offensive solidity. We knew that Valentine and Battle could cause us trouble with their talent, but what really made the difference were some very important baskets by Calzavara. We came into this game on a roll, buoyed by our recent results, and we wanted to build on the positive momentum we’d created, especially in front of our fans. Unfortunately, we didn’t succeed, and now we need to quickly put this behind us, focusing on our next game against Peristeri and doing everything we can to secure the win. I want to congratulate Udine, who showed tonight that they wanted to win this game more than we did. They were able to make key baskets both during tough stretches and at the decisive moments of the game, and they deserved the win. For our part, we need to roll up our sleeves, analyze the mistakes we made, and make sure we’re ready for our next game».

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».

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Giannis Kastritis’ comments following Tezenis Verona-Pallacanestro Openjobmetis Varese:

«This is a very important win, especially given the nature of the game we faced and the way it came about. It’s never easy to win on the road against a solid, well-coached team that didn’t give us anything for free. It was our third game in eight days, our second consecutive road game following our BCL match, and we wanted to be ready and focused. We went through some tough moments, but we always stayed united, working together to find solutions. I believe that today we laid another solid foundation stone in building what we want to become. We still have our ups and downs, but we’re working to minimize them as much as possible. As always, I thank our fans for their support».

Photo by Ciamillo&Castoria – Unauthorized reproduction prohibited

Comments from Giannis Kastritis ahead of the Tezenis Verona vs. Pallacanestro Openjobmetis Varese game:

«I hope our latest victory in the BCL will give us more confidence, and I’m convinced it will, because I believe in our players. We always say we need to let the past go and move on, since we’re playing constantly. So I expect these results to help us believe even more in what we’re doing. At the same time, though, that confidence must remain just that—it mustn’t turn into complacency or lead us to think we’re set for good now. We must always stay hungry: we have to keep wanting to prove our worth, over and over again. The improvements in recent games? This is the path we’re following, and it’s what we expected. As I often say, though, this is a long-term process that must never stop. We mustn’t feel complacent or satisfied—we still have plenty of reasons not to be. I do feel, however, that we’re on the right track. The most important thing for our progress and for the success of the entire season will be to make sure we stay hungry, motivated, and united, no matter what happens. Not every game will be perfect, and we know we’ll continue to have ups and downs. But as long as we maintain this hunger, this motivation, and this unity, we’ll have the chance to bounce back and get back on track. The more we work and play together, the more data and insights we gather through video analysis—all of which helps every member of the team. We’re gaining a better and better understanding of what we want to do and our defensive system, which is always difficult for newcomers to grasp at first. But I feel the same way about our offense. As a group, we want to and strive to play together, starting with defense and defensive rebounding to launch the fast break. Similarly, attacking well, limiting turnovers, and maintaining a good offensive balance helps us defend better in transition and, subsequently, against a set defense. These are all interconnected aspects, and we feel we’re improving steadily. Ultimately, though, I’ll keep emphasizing one point: every game shows that, in most cases, what decides the outcome is intensity, the will to win, and the ability to be on the court with the right body language and the right attitude. As for Verona, I want to stress that they’re a very strong and solid team. They are a team—in all capital letters—that is well-prepared and well-coached. They know their strengths and weaknesses and play accordingly. That’s why I think it would be an oversimplification to focus solely on Tobey, who is obviously a very dominant player for them. First and foremost, we need to focus on ourselves and on what we need to execute correctly, starting with our defensive transition and extending to defensive rebounding. If we can perform at a high level in these two areas, I believe we’ll have an excellent chance of controlling the game and winning it».