“I am happy for the team as we did a lot of good things but I’ve got to finish the game better since I committed a few turnovers in the end and I’ve got to be better defensively,” Edwards said in his post-game comments. “Trying to get some wins on the road will be important but we’ll just keep chipping away and we’ll see.”
Virtus was in cruise control throughout the opening three quarters but let its foot off the gas in the fourth, as Maccabi closed the gap to just 6 points (90-84) before the hosts made sure there was to be no final twist.
Virtus head coach Dusko Ivanovic stressed there was never any room for complacency in basketball, adding that his team now needs to prove its credentials on the road if it is to feature as postseason contenders.
“We now have to demonstrate that we are a serious team by playing good away as well as at home,” the Montenegrin tactician said, heaping some praise on Alston. “He played well tonight, just like he did in the las Italian championship game. I think we controlled tonight’s game all the time except in the last quarter, when we had four turnovers and made the situation complicated. Basketball is beautiful because you need to keep your focus for the entire 40 minutes,” he added.