João Fernandes in an interview with the CAB Official Website

The CAB Sub-24 Team is involved in the final phase of CNB-1. Our boys have demonstrated, in the field, their determination and commitment to dignify the shirt they wear, putting into practice a good basketball. Despite the difference in competitive experience with the teams they have faced, CAB players have not inhibited themselves. On the contrary, the games played make it clear that we have a quality team from which players can leave for the senior main team. In an interview with the CAB's Official Site, Coach João Fernandes analyzes the spirit with which the CAB has brought the competition and leaves a message of confidence to the entire CAB FAMILY. Here we record your words: What spirit is the team experiencing in this final phase? The team participates in this national phase with two objectives: to try to move on to the next phase and that these young players have experiences that in the near future can make them stronger. So far, it has been shown that they are able to discuss all games, paying dearly for the little competitiveness they have during their training. Experiences like the one you're having will make you stronger and may become part of the CAB's core team. What has been the main challenge the team has had to face? The fact that we face more experienced teams, not only in terms of age, but in competitive terms, because they already have many games played at the national level, has led us to make mistakes in decisive moments and it has cost us the possibility of having some victory already. Let's see if throughout the race we'll continue to make the same mistakes, or if we'll be able to reduce those failures, so that we can get to the victories. So far, have the results met expectations or not? You never play to lose. And that was always the team motto. We want to discuss victory in all games, although we have left for this competition with few games performed and without knowing anything of the opponents. So, seeing what happened in the field, it's easy to say that we could have won two of these meetings already. The bitter taste is left, but I believe that it can turn into something more positive, in the near future or for other national participations. As a coach, what message have you been trying to convey to the players? My message is clearly in order to grow this group of young players, making them believe that although they do not have the same experiences as some of the opponents and meet by the teams that rely on older and more experienced players, it is possible to discuss the victory in all games. Of course, this message goes better by winning than when you lose, as was the case with our team so far. But I believe that at the end of this participation, some of the players will believe that they also have quality and that if they want to continue playing, training at their limit, they can grow, do better things, and who knows, get to the CAB's main team. What message would you like to leave the CAB FAMILY? I'd like the CAB FAMILY to continue to cherish this young team, regardless of the results it might achieve. The future may be more bright for some and the simple fact that they see that they are also cherished and that they can also be part of this club in the near future, may lead to their thinking and way of working changing and taking them to other competitive levels.