GRANADA, Feb. 18 (from the special correspondent of EUROPA PRESS, Rodrigo Trascasa) –
The Real Madrid coach, Pablo Laso, celebrated his team’s triumph to reach the semifinals of the Copa del Rey, beating the Río Breogán (73-67) from a good defense, with wear and tear that took its toll on them, where the Alberto Abalde took the leading role for stopping Dzanan Musa for many minutes.
“We knew it would be difficult because Breogán was playing at a very high level. We have managed not to let them run or play in the open field where they have a lot of danger and creative players and we have lowered their records a lot. The defensive work has been very good,” he said in press conference after advancing in Granada.
Laso confessed that he did not expect anything other than a difficult debut against the Galicians, but he praised his team for minimizing the best attack in the League. “They have believed in the second half, there have been long rebounds that have scored triples or easy baskets and if we had dominated them, we would have had much more control of the game”, he pointed out, before assessing the game in attack.
“Offensively I think we’ve been pretty good, and we’ve moved the ball well. Very open shots but without success, and when we were less successful and tighter, Nigel hit that three-pointer on the board and gave us air. We lacked, more that I hit triples, that also, a bit of running, of being able to play more in the open field, I think that the effort to stop them may have taken its toll on our rhythm, “he added.
The Basque coach was asked about Abalde’s defense to a Musa who was frustrated in the first half. “Alberto has done a great job, defensively and offensively. We will talk about his defense against Musa, which has been very good, but the team has helped him and it was easier for him. But offensively he has made good decisions, I think it was one one of the best games in Madrid,” he said.
“Experience is important, but we have done a great job throughout the game and some of my players played their first Cup. I always give importance to experience, but it is not decisive, within the game the forcefulness that we had from the first game has been decisive minute,” he finished.