Scariolo Reflects on Copa del Rey Final Loss, Praises Baskonia

Sergio Scariolo, head coach of Real Madrid, expressed disappointment following his team’s Copa del Rey final loss but acknowledged Baskonia as a fair winner. He had the opportunity to become the first coach in history to win the Cup with three different teams, but fell short.

Key Takeaways from Scariolo’s Post-Match Analysis

Scariolo highlighted defensive lapses and offensive struggles in the final minutes as crucial factors in the defeat. He commended Baskonia’s confidence and efficiency, particularly their success from beyond the arc.

“It is great for Spanish basketball that Baskonia has recovered so much this year, they are fair winners. We have conceded too many finishes at the rim, it has been evident. We failed in one-on-one defense and in assists. Of their seven triples, six have been from the big men and that has forced us to go out a little too much.”

Sergio Scariolo

Final Minutes Prove Decisive

Scariolo pinpointed a loss of composure on offense during the final three minutes as a turning point. Despite reaching a tied score, Real Madrid struggled to maintain clarity and efficiency in their attack.

“We reached three minutes from the end with the game tied and we lost our lucidity in attack. In the end Baskonia maintained its line with confidence and efficiency. It was a fair winner.”

Sergio Scariolo

Areas for Improvement Identified

The coach identified a demand for improvement in both interior defense and rebounding. He also noted a lack of clarity and patience in his team’s offensive execution.

“Something was missing. That extra point to not allow shots in our paint and lose rebounds at the end. We also lacked clarity and patience.”

Sergio Scariolo

Pressure and Composure

Scariolo observed that Baskonia appeared to handle the pressure of the final moments with greater ease, allowing them to make more decisive plays. He noted that despite advantages, the sensation was that Baskonia remained firmly in the game.

“A team that reaches the final without pressure in the last minutes has more lightness to make decisions and get it right. Despite our advantages, the sensations were that Baskonia was in the game. I never saw them with faces on the verge of KO. It is tricky for me to get into the players’ heads at this moment. I don’t reckon it’s time to analyze in a cold and lucid way. It wouldn’t be fair to lose the players who did a deep analysis right now.”

Sergio Scariolo

Looking Ahead

Despite the disappointment, Scariolo emphasized the importance of building on the team’s progress and maintaining focus on upcoming competitions. He acknowledged the challenge of rebounding from the loss but stressed the need to remain competitive.

“We are disappointed, but the progress of the work has allowed us to play a good Copa del Rey and that is not thrown overboard. It is the basis with which to start again. It will not be easy to lift our heads and compete, but that is what we have to do. It does not have to affect us in the competitions that remain, which are the most key.”

Sergio Scariolo