With the game at a thousand revolutions and the score tight, Nicolás Laprovittola, MVP of the match with 18 points, showed his usual calmness to lead Barça to the semifinals of the Cup. “The team trusted in my reading, in how I keep pace with the game. game. With the game tight, the pressure was on us. It was not easy and we got through it,” the Argentine told Movistar after “a very tough game” against a Manresa team that played “very well.”
“The start of the third quarter was not good, but we recovered. We play to the rhythm of Manresa. At times we were not comfortable,” he lamented. The one from Morón pointed out that the victory went towards the Blaugrana side because they were “more intelligent in the last five minutes.” “We rebounded well, it was key,” added Laprovittola, who is ready for the semifinals: “This match prepares us for tomorrow.”
Roger Grimau expressed himself along the same lines. “It was a very attractive match for the fans, but we suffered. If I had been in the stands, with nothing to do with the game, I would have had a great time. I am happy. All the players have been very good,” explained the Blaugrana coach, in addition to praising the people from Manresa: “It was what we expected. They play wonderfully, they are always there, and it is very difficult. It is a Malay drop.”
The praise for those from Bages continued in the mouth of Willy Hernangómez, who highlighted the “warrior” spirit of those from Nou Congost. “We are a new team and everything has a process. The important thing is to work. “I am proud of the team,” said the Barça center.
For his part, Manresa coach, Pedro Martínez, ended up “satisfied” despite “some lost balls.” “We have gone to the limit. But we play like that, with risk. We have to think about improving,” concluded the coach.
