Jasikevicius: 'If we don't find energy, it can be a very short series' / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: R.Molina/EuroLeague Basketball via GettyImages Credit R.Molina/EuroLeague Basketball via GettyImages

Real Madrid outscored FC Barcelona in the first game of the ACB League finals at Palau Blaugrana. The Blancos destroyed the Catalan powerhouse in the paint.

Player of the Game EFF 20 Gabriel Deck Points 18 Accuracy 6-11 Rebounds 5 Assists 3

Sarunas Jasikevicius appeared serious in the post-game conference. The Lithuanian specialist analyzed the loss.

"I would like to congratulate Chus (Mateo) and Pablo (Laso), who is in Madrid, on the victory. They were clearly better," began Saras.

"In general, we were not able to forget the series against Joventut. We had 72 hours to prepare for the final, plus the knowledge that you were playing the final against Madrid, but we didn't have enough energy," Barca's head coach continued.

Barcelona allowed 49 points at halftime.

"It says it all. We didn't know how to make fouls. They have been very aggressive, we have always been one step behind. They rebounded over our heads. That can't be an excuse," explained Jasikevicius.

Jasikevicius sent a message to his players.

"We didn't find strength and energy. If we don't find it, it can be a very short series," Jasikevicius admitted. "The coach has to find the solutions and the words to make my players do better. And I didn't know how to do it in both halves. The first half hurts me a lot. They scored 50 points, and we only made 6 fouls. We have to quickly forget what happened tonight."

"If you have a good mentality, the legs always go with you. I think they are physically prepared and used to playing every 48 hours. If we don't come to Palau to die, it will be very difficult," he added.

The second game of the best-of-five series will be played at 9 pm CEST on Wednesday.

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