Martínez achieves his first white victory on the road to the final

Real Madrid qualified for the EuroLeague Supercup final after an agonizing victory in overtime against Dubai. The score of 95-98 reflected the intensity of a match that began with difficulties for the Madrilenians, who came back in the second half to force overtime and successfully close the match. The matchup against Olympiacos is set for Saturday, September 19, at 19:00 hours.

In his first official appearance as head coach of the team, Pedro Martínez analyzed in detail the development of the match. The coach, former coach of Valencia Basket, explained how the team went from a challenging start to finding their best version as the game progressed. The trajectory was clear: initial dominance by the opponent, subsequent Madrilenian reaction, and a finish in overtime.

A difficult start but a convincing comeback

Martínez did not hide the difficulty of the early stages. “A very tough game. That’s what you expect from this type of match, that they're very physical. In the first half, they dominated us in rebounds, defense… and we had a lot of problems scoring,” the coach acknowledged at the press conference. Dubai imposed their will in the first twenty minutes, controlling the rebounds and suffocating the white attack with suffocating defense.

However, Real Madrid was able to regroup. In the second half, Martínez's team significantly improved their offensive and defensive performance, creating a clear opportunity to close the game before overtime. But errors and turnovers frustrated that possibility. “In the second half, we had a great opportunity to win before overtime, but we made several mistakes and turnovers. In overtime, we had to win it,” the coach added.

Overtime, a decisive turning point

When the game reached overtime, the situation was 50/50 between both teams. Real Madrid was forced to come back from a disadvantage, finding themselves fifteen points down at one point in the match. Despite that adversity, the team showed resilience and fight. “When you get to overtime, it’s 50/50, and we did everything possible to get back in the game when we were down by 15. Then we shot well from three points, but we need to improve those shots,” Martínez explained.

Defense was also an aspect to improve according to the coach's analysis. “In defense, we need to be more physical and aggressive,” he noted, acknowledging that there are areas to work on for the upcoming matches. Despite these shortcomings, the team achieved what mattered most: the victory in a preseason game that served as a qualifier for the final.

Satisfaction with nuances and a process perspective

Martínez expressed his satisfaction with the result, although with the prudence that a preseason phase requires. “Happy because we have won, but at the same time, it’s preseason and we need to keep working to improve,” he stated. The coach was clear in his message: they cannot be complacent or think they will win matches easily. The team needs to consolidate and improve in multiple areas.

“What I am most satisfied with is that we have won. We should be happy about how the match went, but we cannot think we will win games easily. The team has shown personality,” he reflected. That personality shown by the Madrid team was, for Martínez, the most positive aspect of the day. The ability not to give up in the face of adversity and to maintain competitiveness even in difficult moments.

The coach emphasized that they are in a building process. “We have to understand that we are in a process, we need to spend more time together,” he pointed out, acknowledging that tactical adjustments and team chemistry take time. This is not a team that has been together for weeks; rather, they are forming on the go.

The debutants and collective work

When talking about the players, Martínez did not hesitate to highlight the newcomers who played an important role in the victory. Luwawu-Cabarrot and Jaime Pradilla, two new signings, left good impressions. “They had very good moments and were decisive,” the coach praised.

But they weren’t the only ones. Andrés Feliz also received mention for his contributions on both offense and defense. Even Campazzo deserved specific recognition for his defensive work on Okobo. “We had more players who played well, Andrés Feliz was very good on offense and defense. I also think Campazzo's defense on Okobo was very good,” Martínez detailed.

This collective approach is central to the philosophy that Martínez wants to instill. “Ultimately, it’s about having the maximum number of players who can help. Probably tomorrow it will be others, and that’s good if it happens,” he concluded, suggesting that squad depth and internal competition are key elements for success.

Martínez’s vision of how he wants his team to play is clear and ambitious. “I want all the players to bring out their best version. To try to share the ball, be aggressive on defense, run, and play good basketball. That’s our job and that’s why we train every day,” he stated. This is the model he seeks to consolidate: offensive basketball, aggressive defense, constant movement, and a mentality of sharing responsibilities.

With qualification already secured for the EuroLeague Supercup final, Real Madrid is now preparing to face Olympiacos. Martínez will have a few days to polish the aspects he identified as needing improvement and for his team to continue enhancing their cohesion. The next battle will be decisive in the pursuit of the first title of the season.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Martínez logra su primer triunfo blanco rumbo a la final