by Francesco Pioppi
A victory to permanently lock down the salvation discourse and start looking forward with confidence, making more than one thought about a qualification for the playoffs which – at least in the summer – seemed like a mirage. And instead the Reggiana Basketball, which at 7 pm will face Vanoli Cremona at the PalaRadi, has earned this credibility through victories (already 10 in 20 matches) and convincing performances, even in difficult situations.
A booty that at the moment is worth even the fifth place in the standings: a great satisfaction for the club, the technical staff and the players. As has been happening for several weeks now, coach Caja will have to do without Candi, but will still be able to count on Olisevicius. The Lithuanian sniper (16.7 points on average) will grit his teeth and will be in the game despite the inflammation in the Achilles tendon that is limiting him.
After the stop due to the problem in his right knee, Diouf will also be available and – albeit with an autonomy to be deciphered – the Italian-Senegalese center will lengthen the rotations. On the other hand, Bryant Crawford, who came out with a bad left wrist from the trip to Warsaw, is in strong doubt. The exams fortunately ruled out serious troubles or fractures, but the Unahotels play-guard did only part of the last training session with the rest of the group. In any case, he will leave for Cremona and then it will be understood if it will be up to him or to one of Larson and Thompson to sit in the stands for turnover.
Maximum attention to Vanoli who took advantage of the absences for Covid of Cinciarini and Olisevicius in the first leg and won 64 to 58 (the ideal would therefore be to overturn also the goal difference …) and after a tragic period between November and December is raising its head.
During the week Galbiati’s team achieved an important success against Naples and in the new year they still achieved illustrious scalps on their parquet, overcoming both Venice and Sassari. The heart of the team is always represented by the Italian group from which, in addition to Poeta and Cournooh, the names of Pecchia stand out, a player of great temperament and constantly growing (11.4 points and 5.3 rebounds with 58% from 2) and Spanish, born in 2003, rising star of our basketball owned by Real Madrid (12.2 points with 42.2% from 3) who scored the first leg in the bracket in front of seven NBA scouts who arrived at the Unipol Arena to see him from near.
“Cremona has just returned from a recovery victory against Napoli which together with Juskevicius gave them morale and confidence to try to get out of the relegation zone – coach Caja analyzed – We are aware of this: it will be a game to play first and foremost with the head, making us mentally ready for all 40 minutes because Vanoli is a team that raises the number of possessions, often attacks already at the first available option and keeps the defense busy even with many dangerous movements away from the ball. breaks and gusts and we must therefore be concentrated and solid from start to finish, without being distracted by their partials or by the thrust of the public “.
