Barça challenges Valencia Basket’s home court factor in a final full of hope

He Barça He is already facing his great final challenge of the season. The Barça team begins the final of the Endesa League on the track Valencia Basket, which for the first time in its history will host a tie for the title. Opposite will be a Barça that will experience its tenth league final with Xavi Paschal in command, looking for the fifth trophy.

In the previous event organized by the ACB for the media, Paschal appeared alongside Tornike Shengeliawhile on the part of the Valencia Basket was made by Pedro Martinez and Jaime Pradilla. The Barça coach wanted to underline, from the first moment, the respect that the rival and the season achieved by the Taronja team deserve.

“Very happy to be here. We came out of the difficulty, with respect and admiration for everything that Valencia Basket has done throughout the season, but at the same time we are excited, eager for this to begin and to be able to be competitive to the maximum of what we can, try to be in the game in every game and if we have the opportunity to win one of the two games that we are going to play here, then go for it,” he stated. Paschal.

Barça arrives in Valencia with the need to win at least one game away from home. Palau to recover the court factor. Pascual, however, relativized the weight of playing away first after the season’s precedents between both teams. “Generally, the home court factor has a relative value. We have played four times, both teams have been able to win away, both teams have won at home. The players know the Palauthey know the Roig Arena. It has relative importance. We have also seen in the quarterfinals everything that has happened with the teams that have not played with the court factor in their favor. It’s relative. Obviously, we all prefer to have the clue factor. But nobody can say that Barcelona cannot be able to win a game here in Valencia.”

The Barça coach also wanted to vindicate the offensive identity of his team and the attractiveness that the series can have for the viewer. “We have the style we have, with our style we have 93.5 points per game in the League, if I’m not mistaken. It is a different style, it is a somewhat different way of playing, but at the same time we also want to be… we want to rotate and we want to defend well and we want to do everything in the best possible way. And it will be a very nice tie for the spectator,” he noted.

Nevertheless, Paschal He also recognized that the Barça He has lived a season marked by irregularity and injuries, although he reaches the decisive moment with more resources available. “We have had a slightly more irregular season, in both competitions. ACB a little more stable than it seems, the number of victories since I have been in front of the team is very good, both regularly and in the Playoff, but it is true that as a result of the many injuries that we have had, we have had different ways of getting competitive and trying to be competitive and win. Now that we are all here, we have more resources, we have more possibilities, we have more game, and we have also managed to regain the form of some players who were a little tight in the final stretch. And nothing, the final is there in front of both teams and we are both excited to try to win,” he summarized.

At his side, Tornike Shengelia He also showed respect for Valencia Basket, a club in which he played in the past and of which he has a special memory. “Yes, the truth is that I have very good memories of being here and I have grown a lot as a person and as a player in Valencia. And whenever I can, I always thank the club that has given me that opportunity. I must obviously say that I imagined that I was going to play in a final and I would be here against Valencia, but hey, everything happens in this sport and that’s what’s beautiful about it,” commented the Georgian.

On the taronja side, Pedro Martinez He conveyed the “excitement” that is experienced in Valencia before a historic event. “It is where we all want to be when we start the season and it has maximum difficulty, I think that for both teams and we have done a good job during the year to now be competitive. Obviously, we do not have the guarantee that we will win now, but we do have the peace of mind that the work we have done has been good,” explained the coach.

Jaime Pradillafor its part, had an impact on the mood of the Valencian locker room after a high-level season. “The truth is that with desire, with enthusiasm. We come in addition to having a good year, but I believe that this Final Four“That match brought us together even more to gain strength and, well, fight for what’s left and get together to get the best out of this end of the season and I think it’s a time to unite more and fight until the end and try to reach as high as possible,” he said.

Pedro Martinez also coincided with Paschal in which the court factor alone will not decide the final. “They have played on the most difficult courts in Europe throughout their careers and they have shown that they have the character, the personality. We have much less experience than them. In the end, the court factor gives you a point of energy if things go badly for you, but if you don’t play well, the court factor will not be enough and vice versa, if you play away and have a good game and overcome the technical and tactical difficulties that you are going to encounter. In sport, the court factor is relative,” he said.