Review Pallacanestro Reggiana: in the running for the Final Eight

At the beginning of the season we had predicted a tenth place for Unahotels Reggio Emilia, i.e. we thought it would be difficult to qualify for the playoffs, but instead the first quarter of the year is gone and Priftis’ team is over performing especially considering the first outing at home with Trent.

The results

After the bad defeat against the undefeated league leaders, three consecutive victories (Cremona, Treviso and Trieste), a slip at the Pala Bigi against Brescia and in Pistoia. And then two good victories with Tortona and Venezia which confirmed Reggio among the top 8 and in the running for the Final Eight in Turin in February.

The path in the BCL is also good where the balance sheet says 3-1 and qualification for the Play-Ins already in the pocket.

Performance analysis

Without a shadow of a doubt, Unahotels is playing solid, concrete, no-frills basketball, perhaps not spectacular, but extremely effective; second best defense in the League, Smith and his teammates found their groove sooner than expected and game after game they always proved to be concentrated and focused on being a team straight away. From this point of view, the work of the second year coach on the red and white bench was impeccable.

Key player

In addition to the aforementioned Jamar Smith, a leader on and off the court, it is clear that the spotlight is mainly on Momo Faye who has attracted the attention of Euroleague teams and NBA scouts. The big man from Reggio Emilia is having an incredible season from many points of view, on both sides of the pitch. If last year he surprised, not this year, but we know that reconfirming himself is increasingly difficult.

The future

In the second part of the ascending part of the tournament, Unahotels is called to confirm the good things it has produced in this first part. Next match at home with Scafati and then away to Naples and Sassari. It is only right to collect a few more victories considering that the first round will end with Bologna and Milan.