In the basketball Bundesliga, Alba Berlin is on target with ten wins from eleven games. Things are different in the Euroleague. After twelve bankruptcies in a row, there should finally be a sense of achievement again. However, the team coached by Israel González cannot afford a weak first half like the 86:60 win against Mitteldeutscher BC on Monday evening at Asvel Villeurbanne (8 p.m. / MagentaSport) on Friday.
“We have to muster the energy from the second half on Friday and play with self-confidence so that we can win the game,” said international Johannes Thiemann. For center Yanni Wetzell, top scorer with 14 points against MBC, the team must “remain positive and appear self-confident” despite the negative series.
However, it’s not just a mental issue for Alba. A wave of infection is going around in the team. “We are in a difficult situation right now. Players are sick or weak,” said González. Captain Luka Sikma called in sick on the morning of the MBC game. “The players showed commitment and solved it with a lot of heart. But sometimes we have to play smarter,” González demanded after the win. “We know we have to keep improving. In order to survive in the Euroleague, we have to show an almost perfect game.”
Villeurbanne has been in good shape lately. The French climbed a bit from the bottom of the table with three wins in the last four games, including at top favorites Barcelona. González warns against experienced top star Nando de Colo. The 35-year-old playmaker is currently acting like he’s 20 again, according to the Spaniard. “Villeurbanne has some weapons but De Colo is definitely a special player.” Whether Alba captain Sikma can help end the series of defeats will be decided at short notice.
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