Vico (Blacks). “Well done at taking advantage of Imola’s indecisions”

Professor Vico also held a lesson at PalaRuggi. The Argentine guard scored a triple at the end that allowed the Blacks to go to extra time in the derby at Andrea Costa Imola, which they then won thanks also to his 7 points in overtime. Yet another decisive basket in a career that has often seen him be decisive (it is no coincidence that he is the most successful player in Serie B) and in fact many saw him on the eve as the protagonist of this delicate match that gave the Blacks the playoffs. An objective achieved thanks to the four consecutive victories obtained since Garelli’s return. “The playoffs represent the first objective of our championship – explains Vico – and having achieved it should not be underestimated, even if we all hoped to occupy a better position in the standings. It was a difficult season starting from the high level of the new B National team, then we have injuries, changes of coach, players who have left and others who have arrived, all conditions that have never allowed us to find continuity of results and to see our work rewarded on the pitch Imola confirms that the team has character and above all that it is very hungry. We are reaching the playoffs in the best possible way and now we want to continue our good momentum with Ravenna.” The creator of the streak of four consecutive victories is Garelli who has only won since his return.

“Gigi brought light-heartedness especially to some players. Obviously this is not a criticism of the previous coach with whom we worked well anyway. The pitch immediately demonstrated that each of us was useful to the game by giving our own contribution and we were also good at making the episodes turn in our favor, something we had never done before. A few too many defeats had taken away a bit of serenity.” Regarding his umpteenth decisive basket, Vico as usual is very modest. “It was an anomalous play in which I managed to score. Imola probably should have committed a foul to stop the game and we were good at taking advantage of it by then playing extra time with great clarity. Now we can’t wait to play in the playoffs and to start a new championship.” The Blacks can finish seventh, their current position, or finish sixth, but in that case they will have to hope for a defeat by Mestre in Lumezzane, because finishing on equal points would reward the Venetians, ahead thanks to direct clashes. Obviously it will be essential for the Faenza team to win the derby with Ravenna. In the event of seventh place, the playoff quarter-final will be with Libertas Livorno, while sixth place would lead to the meeting with Herons Montecatini.

Luca Del Favero