Fifth match in fourteen days for the Rivierabank Riminiwhich closes an authentic tour de force at the PalaMacchia in Livorno challenging the Freedom (two-ball Sunday at 6pm). For Rimini the objective is to continue the positive roadmap of this start of the season, awaiting a weekend free from championship commitments due to Gora Camara’s call-up to the Senegalese national team. The Labronians, on the other hand, are newly promoted in the Serie A2 Old Wild West championship, and are now in the group of ad teams 8 points in the standings: the first 11 matches of the biancotinti tell of a championship of ups and downs, with some heavy defeats but also excellent performances against the best teams in the championship (the victory in Forlì, but also the narrow defeats against Cividale and Cantù). In the’midweekthe team of Marco Andreazza he captured a broad and convincing message home win over Pesaro (104-78).
Libertas has chosen to face the season of return to the cadet category by confirming the nucleus of Italian protagonists of the promotion, starting from the technical guidance of coach Andreazza: to the confirmed players, then, talented and above all experienced players have been added, starting by the two USA.
The guards, interchangeable in the roles of one and two, are precisely the two foreigners on the Livorno roster. Quinton Hookerborn in 1995, has experience in Europe, having also played in the Champions League last season with Strasbourg, and is a complete player from an offensive point of view (over 13 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists on average); However, it needs no introduction Adrian Bankswho at the age of 38 shows off his immense talent every Sunday (16 on average, 28 in his last outing): with almost ten years of experience on the upper floor, there are few players in A2 who can boast his ability to scoring (from 3 points but also in the area, coming out of the blocks but also creating shots off the dribble and on the pick and roll). The twenty-year-old plays the role of three Gregorio Allineiperimeter player (32% from the arc on 3+ attempts per game), while the four is Italian Nazarenea veteran of the category, capable of having a double dimension both outside the 6.75 and with his back to the basket, but above all of putting physicality, energy and character into play in the most important moments. At the center of the painting is the Livornese Tommaso Fantonithirty-nine years old who, in addition to good numbers (9 points and over 5 rebounds), brings the security and solidity given by a long and satisfying career in the cadet championship.
When Fantoni made his debut in Serie A, the playmaker Andrea Bargnesiborn in 2001, was not even three years old: today, the Fano winger is the director of the Labronica bench, and contributes with a mainly external game (also due to his only 182 cm) and by putting his teammates into rhythm. He also starts from the bench Ariel Filloya former Italian player whose pro career started in Rimini about twenty years ago now: after the promotion achieved with Trieste last season, the Italian-Argentine is now the sixth luxury man of Libertas, reaching double figures on average with a excellent 37% from the arc (on 6 attempts per game) and taking full advantage of his good size (190 cm for 85 kg). The two long ones, however, are Francesco Fratto33 years old, a career between A2 and B, almost always in Tuscany, and Dorin Bucaborn in 2002, 216 cm tall and with long arms that make him a very important presence in the area. Both are energy players, mainly internal, although Fratto does not disdain the occasional three-point shot (which he shoots at only 21%).
In coach Andreazza’s playbook, the two foreigners Hooker and Banks take most of the shots, as well as Filloy: all three are capable of making the most of both exits from the blocks and the pick and roll to finish both at the rim and , above all, from three points or stopping and shooting from mid-range. Livorno’s attack, in fact, is largely based on the scoring abilities of its wingers and on their interchangeability, which provides the opposing defenses with few points of reference. For Rivierabanca, therefore, it will be essential to limit the offensive possibilities of the Labronian wingers, taking into account their individual characteristics and paying particular attention to pick and roll situations and the different plays that involve their outgoing reception; at the same time, the red and whites will also have to respond to the long whites, capable of being ready to collect the volleys of their teammates, especially when the defenses are concentrated on the wingers.
Defensively, Livorno tends to cover the area, making penetrations and receptions in the low post difficult: Marini and his teammates will therefore have to look for good shots with the defense deployed as well as easy baskets in transition, without however exposing themselves to the possible Libertas counterattack. Another point in favor of the Tuscan team, then, is represented by the pitch factor: at PalaMacchia the public is warm and close to the pitch, and makes itself felt throughout the entire match. In order to win, therefore, Rimini will not be able to help but play constant basketball for the entire forty minutes, knowing that, also thanks to the important victory in the last match, they will find themselves facing a warm and galvanized environment, ready to impact the final result.
Go Rimini!!!
