Pedro Martínez: “I’m a fan of Facu Campazzo”

“I’m a fan of Facu Campazzo,” Pedro Martínez said. After Real Madrid’s EuroLeague victory over ASVEL Villeurbanne, the coach highlighted the Argentine point guard’s work and mentality, even though he was not among the most statistically prominent players.

Martínez focused on what the numbers do not capture: the effort Campazzo brings to his play, his approach to training and his desire to help his teammates. He also praised his commitment and the work that does not necessarily show up in the statistics, calling his attitude excellent.

The coach broadened his point to the importance of the team. Jantunen and Chuma Okeke were among those he singled out for their contributions. In Martínez’s view, work that is less visible in the statistics can matter just as much; he valued the behind-the-scenes effort made by several players.

He also spoke about Gabriele Procida, praising his day-to-day attitude. Martínez noted that the Italian had spent time out of the team through the coach’s decisions before performing well in this game. He said he hoped to help him improve.

The win did not remove every area for improvement. Martínez acknowledged that his team had been troubled by a zone defence in the third quarter. He felt they responded better afterwards, but said they would review the spell and look for solutions, since other teams could also change their defensive approach. He was not especially concerned, while recognising the need to improve.

The victory carries added significance given the start to the EuroLeague season: Real Madrid’s record, which had stood at 0-3, was brought back to level. Martínez noted that the circumstances around the earlier defeats differed from those of the home games. He also praised the crowd, whose support he felt was outstanding during the team’s difficult spell.