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Istanbul (dpa / bb) - At Bundesliga basketball team Alba Berlin, there was no reason for depression despite the 84:89 defeat at Fenerbahce Istanbul.
«I am very proud of the team.
We played a great game against possibly the best Euroleague team at the moment.
We kept up until the end.
And that with a reduced squad, ”said sports director Himar Ojeda, praising his team's performance in the Turkish metropolis.
Because with Niels Giffey, Jayson Granger and Louis Olinde, three top performers were once again missing.
That's why playmaker Peyton Siva made his comeback earlier than planned.
«Under these circumstances we decided that he should play.
Especially since he had previously said that he was ready, ”said Ojeda.
«Of course we knew it was a risk.
But otherwise we would have had an even smaller rotation, ”added the Spaniard.
The sports director emphasized how important that was: "This was the only way we were able to keep up with such an opponent until the end."
Even if Siva was still noticing the week-long break from injury.
He collected five assists, but all of his eight attempts to throw missed the basket.
"He in particular will have time to find his rhythm again," said Ojeda.
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Alba now has six days until the next game against Panathinaikos Athens on Friday.
It was four days before the Fenerbahce game.
An absolute rarity this season.
The days were mainly used for training.
For Ojeda this had already made itself felt on Friday.
“You could see that in the game in some situations.
You saw what was missing this season, ”he said.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210220-99-519727 / 2
Euroleague table
ALBA Berlin squad