ESP - Herreros - Team missing spark

MADRID (ACB) - Real Madrid technical director Alberto Herreros admits his side need to re-discover that extra something that has been lacking from their play so far in the ACB play-off semi-final series against DKV Joventut.

Although they won the opening contest 72-70, Madrid slumped to a 76-69 defeat in the second of their two home contests on Sunday, giving DKV the upper hand as the series now switches to Badalona for the next two games.

DKV coach Aito Garcia Reneses feels that Madrid have not been at their best in the opening two matches, and Herreros agrees with that assessment.

"The key is to recover our spark. The players are hurt, we need to recover and, if we can obtain it (our spark), we can win in Badalona," said Herreros, a former player with Madrid and Spain. "We knew that it was going to be a long series."

Madrid trailed 69-67 with two minutes remaining in Sunday's encounter at the Palacio Vistalegre, but they could not push on for victory against a Rudy Fernandez-inspired DKV.

Herreros acknowledges Madrid had a chance to go 2-0 up in the series, but said in Marca: "We could not do it and in the end we paid. In semi-finals you cannot lose so much possession."

Game Three between Madrid and DKV takes place in Badalona on Thursday.

FIBA