"We have to be ambitious and aim for the biggest possible objectives, and the first one is the Copa. We have the team and, for now, the results to think about it, but we have to take it one game at a time to achieve it. We can think about it, but without forgetting that every weekend brings a different game," explained the Zaragoza power forward about the first target for García de Vitoria's team to pursue this season.
In this way, Casademont continues to work with an essential mindset of not settling for what it has achieved so far. "After beating Lleida, the first thing you say is, let's go to the Palau to win. Then, instead of celebrating the victory, it's about going after the next game. On Monday, when watching the video, instead of looking at all the good things we did, it's about looking at the mistakes so we can keep improving," said the Zaragoza player, who highlighted "the character and mentality" of a team that wants to keep pushing for more.
Jaime Fernández is in his third consecutive season with Casademont. Photo: ACBPhoto/Esther Casas
The next step will be a demanding visit to a court where the Zaragoza club has won just once in its history. "We have little to lose, but a lot to gain. The team is convinced that we can win there, which is why the objective is not to compete but to go there and win," stressed Jaime Fernández, who identified the key to the game as "bringing it into our style of play." "We have to start by defending and rebounding, and from there we have enough scoring options for different teammates to step up," he added.
HIS STEP FORWARD
On a personal level, Jaime Fernández has taken a step forward within the major restructuring Casademont's roster underwent this summer. "I feel very comfortable. In the summer, when speaking with the club, they wanted me to take a step forward, not only on the court but also within the locker room, and I think I'm doing that. On the court, I think I'm doing the things I know how to do, in the role I have, and always trying to give my best," explained the only player from Zaragoza and Aragon on the team.
In addition, the power forward, together with Guillem Vives and Trae Bell-Haynes, is serving as one of Casademont's captains this season and was one of those tasked with explaining the meaning of rasmia to the team's many new signings: "The only thing I told them is that they cannot give up on any ball. They have to dive for every ball because I think that effort is also highly valued here. You can win, you can lose, you can make the shot or miss it, but people cannot leave here feeling that they didn't fight at any point in the game."
