Igor Milicić: We got the desired win in the Austria away game

The Polish national basketball team completed an important task successfully by leaving the match where they hosted Austria in the fifth week of the World Cup qualifiers with a major victory. In the match played in the capital Vienna and witnessing exciting moments, the Poland representative left the court with a crushing score of 123-77, strengthening their claim in the tournament. Poland, against which the home team could hardly take a step and did not relinquish their superiority in either half of the game, also found it very easy to produce scores. The team, who took to the court before this match with only the motto of victory, expressed that they were greatly satisfied to have reached their goals. Statements from both the coach and the team captain at the press conference held after the match clearly revealed the positive atmosphere within the team.

Head Coach Igor Milicić, who answered questions from press members in the final stretch of the match, made important assessments by evaluating the performance his team displayed and the general course of the match. Milicić emphasized that his players not only produced scores but also reflected the true identity of their team on the court with the harmony they established with each other and the high energy they showed. The experienced coach, stating that they came to the Vienna away game specifically to pocket the two points and successfully implemented this plan, noted that the match won was one of the most important stops in their journey. Milicić, who stated that the decision-making mechanisms of his players worked correctly during the match and they displayed a professional vision against a low-guard opponent, added that they were extremely happy with this result.

Team captain Mateusz Ponitka, on the other hand, drew attention to the importance of team spirit by giving detailed information about the moral impact of the clear victory they got from the court and the internal dynamics of the team. The captain stated that despite the court conditions and pressure frequently encountered in tough away matches, the team never lost its course and fought focusing on its goals. He noted that the spirit of unity and solidarity formed within the team in the recent period directly affected the fast-paced and aggressive playing style reflected on the court. Ponitka expressed that they fully reflected the coach's instructions before the match that it was not just a score matter but the team character also needed to be seen on the court. He said that with their young and dynamic squad, they reflected a large part of the game they wanted against Austria and this resulted in a clear victory.

It was emphasized that this match was not just a single match but had the characteristic of being a turning point for the Polish national team in the World Cup qualifiers process. The comfortable victory obtained in the fifth week match of the qualifiers became a factor that seriously increased Poland's average and morale considering other rivals in the group. The efficiency of the team's attacking line and the discipline displayed in preventing the rival in defense carry a manifesto quality for the upcoming matches. The technical staff enters the group stage matches, which will be more difficult, with a stronger hand thanks to the confidence given by this match. The development in areas considered to be the team's weakness and the contribution of reserve players revealed the depth and competitive structure of the team.

Now, after this comfortable victory, the team's eyes are turned to the continuity of the tournament and future tough away matches. The concepts of 'team spirit' and 'energy' emphasized by Head Coach Milicić and captain Ponitka form the main building block of the current squad, and it is seen that these concepts yield successful results. The adaptation of professionals playing abroad, as well as players playing in the Polish basketball league, to the national team formation shows that Igor Milicić has established his system. While the team's performance finds wide echo in the country's press and public opinion, it is thought that this determined step taken not to let the World Cup ticket slip will provide the team with a psychological advantage in future matches. The self-confidence given by this struggle is expected to play a critical role in the longer and more arduous part of the tournament.