'The result of living in a football country': Saras discusses low attendance in playoffs opener / News - Basketnews.com

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Sarunas Jasikevicius was surprised when he entered the press conference room in the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper training center.

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On the eve of the second playoffs battle against Bayern Munich, the Barcelona media session was attended only by a Barca TV reporter, two Barcelona press officers, a video and audio producer, a microphone lady, and a BasketNews journalist.

That's all.

A cozy press conference room, which includes six rows of work desks and four rooms equipped for radio and television reporters, has around 100 seats. However, this time it was empty.

Coming from the basketball country of Lithuania, that was an easy cultural shock.

The first one was watching a group of Lithuanian fans being able to buy tickets to Palau Blaugrana, the venue that can seat up to 7,500 people, two hours before the tip-off of Game 1.

For example, Maccabi had a sold-out two weeks before the start of their playoff home game without even knowing their opponent.

On Tuesday in Milan, AX Armani Exchange Game 1 against Anadolu Efes Istanbul was attended by 6,890 people, which is barely more than half of the arena's capacity (12,700).

"This is not usual here," Sarunas Jasikevicius excused for the low media attendance at the press conference.

"Honestly, this year, we can't complain about attention. Despite how it looks now, there's significant attention to our games," the coach added.

Palau Blaugrana's average crowd was 4,800 this EuroLeague season. That's the ninth-highest number in the EuroLeague this season.

"In the last few months, our gym was usually packed. Fans are returning after the pandemic. We really don't complain about attention and support," Saras assured.

Free throws this season

82%14,2Points made:14,2Accuracy:82,1%Place in standings:2Record max:42Record min:4Most made FTs:Nikola MiroticTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

"I would say we're on one of the best years that I've been here in Barcelona. Fans really support us, especially during tough stretches. We're really happy about their support. But this is true. That's the basketball situation in football countries," Jasikevicius summarized when asked about attention for basketball in football-dominated EuroLeague destinations.

Barcelona's football team is far from its golden days but still managed to attract 57,495 fans to Camp Nou against the relegation-threatened Cadiz on Monday night in a regular La Liga game.

However, the basketball club has a hard time packing up the full gym even during the most important part of the season, despite arguably having the best team in the whole Europe.

AX Armani Exchange playoffs opener was overshadowed by Milan's football derby between Inter and AC Milan.

75,508 were in attendance at San Siro in a game that started two hours after Milan's match vs. reigning EuroLeague champions.

That's the reason why the game at Mediolanum started so early at 7 PM. Usually, games in Milan tips-off at 8:30 PM.

Such an early game time should have been inconvenient to locals since they usually stay in the office late and have to go to the arena, located in Assago outside the city of Milan.

Asked if there is anything that EuroLeague could do to help promote basketball in football countries better, Jasikevicius didn't have a clear answer but questioned the game's timing.

"We have a very similar lifestyle in Barcelona and Italy. To start the playoffs game at 7 PM is not logical to me," Jasikevicius said. "Of course, TV runs everything. But considering the location of Mediolanum and knowing that many people finish their work around 8 PM, it doesn't look logical."

"But, as you said, maybe that's the result of living in a football country," he added.

On Tuesday, more than 6,000 Barcelona fans witnessed a challenging victory over Bayern 77-67.

Although Andrea Trinchieri lost his top-scorer Darrun Hilliard to an injury, Jasikevicius shows no signs of relaxation.

"We have to be at our best, and any relaxation can cost us a lot. Not only because it is Bayern, a team that has character and comes back at you every time we go out of the script," Jasikevicius said before Game 2 on Thursday. "You have to play every 48 hours, and the demand is maximum."

"We already saw it in Game 1, where we lost our minds in the third quarter. Although I was surprised that our best players lost their minds. Most of them are over 30 years old and have gone through many eliminatory rounds. But the reaction later was good," Barcelona's head coach added.

"No more questions?" Jasikevicius looked at the empty press conference room and asked with a smile.

He hopes to see all Palau Blaugrana's seats filled by Barcelona fans to push their beloved team to a Game 2 victory.

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