Bench, defense and new solutions, given that the shooting didn’t go very well. But Cantù won with desire, clarity and intensity. And it wasn’t a given at all, against a Torino whose pride was wounded after the heavy home defeat against Udine. Coach Nicola Brienza weighs his words, but they are words that exude great satisfaction: «I am very happy with this victory, because we knew the difficulty of the match and that we would find a Turin team that would show great intensity, playing to press us to try to make us play badly and she succeeded. We knew we would have to play a strong and strong game to win it.”
The Brianza coach spoke in recent days about identity. He, in this Cantù, sees it clearly emerging as the days go by: «We won with what our identity is, what we want to be, and I think that in the last minute and a half it was exactly this. The team has understood that in this championship, where the level is on average high, the difference in some games will often be made by just one basket. To win important matches and to try to be competitive until the end, this is the type of mentality that makes the difference.”
In the end, everyone proved to be invaluable: «In addition to the aggressiveness it always puts on the pitch, Torino has particular defensive choices. We understood how to attack them and McGee was good at always making the right choice even when passing. But I have to say that everyone was good. Riismaa’s final defense on Taylor is worth three bombs… We lacked a bit in percentages, but I count at least five-six open shots: in such a tight game, those baskets can help. But they are errors that are part of the game and I never go to analyze these numbers, because it can be a “bad” day. I therefore prefer to talk about the desire to win in every way: you could only win by fighting like madmen. The two defenses were excellent, we are a new team and we do many things with the desire to help each other and grow.”
Third consecutive victory, continuity will also have an impact in a championship like this: «Now we rest because it is the third match and we have two more in the next five days. We need to regain energy, because tiredness and fatigue are clearly making themselves felt. However, when you win you always have a positive feeling, returning to the gym after a strong victory helps you smile, because you know you played an important match. Now let’s keep the things we have done as good as possible, trying to grow.”
