Kevin Punter: I set the bar extremely high since I was young, but I will improve more

Kevin Punter scored 23 points in the EuroLeague semifinal, it was his seventh game scoring at least 20 points this season, the 11th in his EuroLeague career. Punter has averaged 14.7 points per game so far, starting in 33 out of 35 games. He is one of two players in the competition with over 100 two-point field goals, 100 free throws made and 60 three-pointers. The other is the MVP of the competition, Vasa Micic, of Efes. "For us yesterday was a tough loss, overall, it was a great game, both teams fought, really wanted to win, someone had to lose, and the difference was made at the last second," he said today when he met the media.

On the season: "I think it’s been a great season for us, to be honest. We finished in the top four, clinched home-court advantage, won a great Game 5 and made it to the Final Four for the first time since 1992. Overall, it has been a great year, of course we would have liked to win the EuroLeague, this had become the goal. But looking at things objectively, to everything we have done, we must give a lot of credit to ourselves and to those who have won."

On his last shot: "Basically it was the right angle, we spaced up, the pass came, I pumped fake, it was the shot we wanted. But it didn’t go in. Not much to add, I shot, it didn’t come in, it happens. The Coach wasn’t upset, he said it was a great open shot."

On his progress during the year: "The big thing for me was to show that I can play with all kinds of players, with guys who have won a lot, be able to help a lot throughout the season, and so did my teammates. In the end we made it to the Final Four, so we did something right."

On his expectations for the future: "I’ve always set the bar very high, ever since I was really young. I love these moments, I’ve always worked extremely hard to live moments like this. I couldn’t have worked any harder. After this season, I will use the summer to regroup, to continue working, because these are the foundations of my every day, of what I am trying to build ".

On Milan: "In the summertime when I talked to the Coach, I wanted to show that I can play with everyone, fit with everyone, on and off the court. I would say that’s what I was able to do, successfully. In Europe, I’ve been here for five years, the biggest challenge for me was off-court adaptation, being away from my friends, my family for so long. In basketball, sure, there are different things that require adjustments, but it has never been the hardest part."

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Gigi Datome also met the media: "Obviously it was a tough defeat against Barcelona, ​​but I’m proud of what my teammates did, they fought, they played hard, against a great team. When you lose by two points, against Barcelona, ​​you know that the game could have gone either way. Unfortunately, it went to their way. But we must be proud to have reached the Final Four and to have played evenly against Barcelona. Now let’s think about the championship, about other goals."

On the EuroLeague season: "When you play in these competitions, unless they beat you by 30 points, you always feel regret. It was a matter of details, everyone remembers the last shot, but there are always other episodes that led you there. We have to look at the big picture, at the regular season we did, at a playoff series won by playing with personality, at the Final Four reached and returning Olimpia to the European elite. We are sorry, let’s go on and try to reach the next goals."

On his first year in Milan: "It has been a great year so far, bringing Milan back to the Final Four after 29 years is huge, we have won two cups, and now we want to win the championship to make this season unforgettable."

On the few minutes that he played in the semifinal: "When you work a year to play these games it is normal to want to play more than a few minutes. But two nights before the game I had a bursitis in my right elbow, with the staff we were able to recover enough to allow me to play, but this, the choices made, then the great game that Vlado Micov had led in another direction. I think it’s better to look at the big picture, at the season we have had and focus on the task ahead, at our intention to make this season even better."