Endesa League Final: Xavi Pascual tempers the enthusiasm after Barça's victory in Valencia

Barça achieves the first step on its way to the Liga Endesa title by defeating Valencia Basket at the Roig Arena, but Xavi Pascual has made it clear that euphoria has no place at this time. After the match, the Barça coach expressed satisfaction with his team's performance, although he emphasized that only the first battle of a series that promises to be tough has been completed.

"The team is strong, we are in a good place. Both teams are, today either could have won," Pascual stated at the end of the game, acknowledging the quality displayed by both teams at the Roig Arena. The coach did not diminish Valencia Basket's merit, emphasizing that the level shown by the two teams was noteworthy and that any small detail could have tipped the balance.

The importance of offense in a high-level final

Pascual highlighted a key aspect to understand how his team secured the victory: offensive performance. "You can't beat Valencia if you don't play well in attack. No matter how good you are in defense, they will score a lot," explained the coach, making it clear that against a rival like Valencia Basket, defense alone is insufficient.

However, the journey was not entirely smooth throughout the forty minutes of play. Pascual acknowledged that his team went through a delicate period, especially in a quarter where the Blue and Reds missed five free throws. "Playing well in attack for 40 minutes was in the plan, and that wasn't the case. We had a very bad quarter, but then we played well; we are happy," he pointed out, showing a balanced view of the game.

Despite these challenging moments, the team managed to regroup and finish the match in good shape. Pascual emphasized their positive mindset throughout: "We reached a good level to beat them. Our mentality is good, we are very determined. Each day will be more challenging."

Handling absences and player recovery

An important aspect in the coach's assessment was the adaptability shown by his team despite the absences. Sato's absence was compensated by Lapro's gradual improvement in physical condition following his prior issues. "Today we were without Sato, but Lapro is getting better. We are back to being the team we were. We are on a good path, but we are only at 1-0," emphasized Pascual, once again stressing his caution regarding their achievements.

The coach also praised the role of the experienced players in a series that will be contested with little rest between games. "As veterans, we try to take care of them so they arrive well at these moments. Joel has also been crucial. We are used to playing every 48 hours; we have to see how we recover now," he remarked, expressing concern about physical management for the upcoming matches.

Regular season context and long-term planning

Pascual took the opportunity to defend the decisions made during the final stretch of the regular season, when the team suffered a tough defeat against Valencia Basket. Far from considering it a failure, the coach placed it within a broader strategy. "We are in the first game; there is a long way to go. But the team has always competed. We remember the game against Valencia, but then we secured six consecutive wins," he stated.

The coach explained that the game was part of a long-term plan to be in prime condition for the playoffs. "In that game, we took risks and got four players back to prepare them for the playoff. It penalized us, but the coach has to look beyond, not just at results," Pascual argued, presenting a perspective that goes beyond immediate results.

The four players rehabilitating during that phase were Lapro, Vesely, Sato, and Clyburn, all returning from long-term injuries. "Everything went wrong in that game, but they were coming back from long injuries. We did it to prepare well for Murcia," the coach concluded, justifying the gamble in the late stages of the regular season.

Prudence as a priority at the Roig Arena

Pascual's insistence on maintaining a grounded approach reflects his accumulated experience in competitions of this magnitude. Although Barça has taken the first step towards the Liga Endesa title, the coach is aware that Valencia Basket will remain a formidable obstacle in the upcoming games. The series has just begun, and there is a long road ahead.

The mentality displayed by the Barça coach, focused on ongoing competition and continuous improvement, will be crucial for facing the challenges ahead. With a roster regaining players and positive dynamics, Barça has the necessary tools to compete on equal terms, although Pascual will ensure the team never loses sight of the reality: in a final, every detail matters, and the margin for error is minimal.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Final Liga Endesa: Xavi Pascual frena la euforia tras la victoria del Barça en Valencia