Lolo Encinas: «Being at the top means winning at home»

If there are no last-minute changes or surprises in the form of positives for Covid-19 in any of the teams, Acunsa Gipuzkoa Basket will return to the Illumbe court this Sunday (6:00 p.m.) to play a new league match against Almansa, rival which currently has the same number of victories and defeats as the Gipuzkoans. Coach Lolo Encinas, however, highlighted in the preview that the team that arrives in San Sebastián “is the fittest team in the League together with Estu”. He warns that “they stopped with the Covid and many people fell, but it is very meritorious that with coach Ruben and the players they have they are scoring 94 points on average and winning by a difference of 20 points. Doing it in this League is very difficult and it seems brutal to me. If they put us in arrivals and counterattack, there will be no option. It is one of the keys, to be strong in defense”, he noted.

The coach is satisfied with this week because «it is the first time since the season began that we are all eleven. We are monitoring loadouts for some players. After Sunday’s loss, the group is in the mood and it shows. Mikel and Ander have entered. The same is not immediate, but let’s see if we notice this regularity that helps us grow, “he pointed out. They are motivated to recover after the last defeat against Tau Castelló. «There is desire, there is another opportunity, we play at home. I have a responsibility to see if I can free them. We are losing more than ten away and nothing happens and at home we are blocked. We want to play well here, it’s not easy, but we want to have a round game and for people to come and have fun. The last two home games have hurt us,” he said.

To add a victory, he thinks that it is not only important to be well in the “staging, you have to be regular. Although we start well, we have to maintain the level. They saw in Coruña that they hesitated and they break it for you, they keep up the pace and we can’t do it. You have to calm down the game and not make easy baskets, “he stressed. About Eddy Polanco, who scored 33 points on the last day, he pointed out that «something will have to be done, he is his scorer. He puts in a direct block, he is very good in one on one. It will not be a war against Polanco, but against Almansa. If he is scoring, I hope the others don’t score on open shots, he also scored in the first leg but we were fine. They have grown a lot, let’s see if we take another step forward and at home I would love for people to enjoy it.”

To be in the top positions, Lolo is aware that “you have to win at home. We’d love it to be an Illumbe fort. We have competed until the end in many away games but here it is costing us. You have to defend this as it is, for the people who come. We have to be until the 40th minute. I don’t want the team to sink at home with our people, “he said. Regarding the calendar, he has expressed that «you play five of six at home and I don’t like it very much. We are going to have strange weeks and we are not used to them. We are at a key moment. We have to play the game on Sunday to believe that we are strong here. We have to take the step forward and strengthen ourselves. It’s two quick weeks that are going to put you where you’re going to be. It is going to place all of us in the League where we are going to play”, he assessed.

“Let’s see how much it helps us”, about Motorcycles

He has also referred to Mikel Motos, who has not played since the beginning of December. «He is already but not one hundred percent yet. He went to Melilla making a tremendous effort. Everything has happened, he is with the group, neither he nor Xabi nor Ander is perfect but they help us, everyone is going to notice. We need everyone and Mikel at the back gives us that plus. Let’s see how much it can help us, “he concluded.