LIVORNO. 24 hours until the derby which will mark the end of a historic regular season for Livorno basketball, Libertas second and hosting the PL first.
Meanwhile, while the two teams prepare for a challenge that will then catapult them into the playoffs, news emerges with respect to the post-season calendar: PL and LL will have identical quarter-final rounds and (hopefully) semi-finals (two at home, then match 3 and the possible fourth out, the beautiful one here), so one of the two will have to play early. The FIP has clarified that there is no rule that gives priority of choice to those who placed best in the regular season (the PL). In essence, either the two clubs will agree on who plays first or it will be the Federation itself which – having consulted the National Basketball League – will unquestionably set the dates and times of the matches.
A similar situation exists in Montecatini where Herons – despite the better placing compared to Gema – has no priority over his cousins and therefore not even the right to unilaterally decide on which day and at what time to play game 1, game 2 and the possible match-5 at PalaTerme. The mystery turned out to be funny and has already been revealed.
Meanwhile, Libertas has announced that the Palamodigliani ticket office will be open tomorrow from 10am to 12pm only and exclusively for the possible purchase of the few remaining parterre tickets.
Libertas here
At Libertas, the day before the third and final derby of the season went smoothly: afternoon training at the Gemini gym and the right level of concentration. The one with the Pielle cousins, in fact, will be a challenge – obviously – very heartfelt, but good only for the statistics. It will be a catwalk for the two teams who will try not to risk the safety of their players. For this reason, the Amarantos will still rest Jacopo Lucarelli, who decided the first leg match with three free throws scored with 2 seconds and 7 tenths left. It was January 7th and since then Cardani’s troop has never lost again. This data is enough to appreciate the caliber of the opponents. Libertas, however, although bandaged up, is ready to compete with the top of the class in a showcase match for the entire city of Livorno which can puff out its chest for having placed its two teams in the top places of group A of series B. This morning Andreazza’s team returns to the Gemini parquet while a shooting session is scheduled for tomorrow morning at Modigliani for the classic match day finishing.
PL here
Two days off after the victory against Fabo Montecatini at the Forum which gave them the certainty of first place in group A and then, for Caffè Toscano PL, they immediately took the lead in the derby. It’s true that this time the derby won’t have any value for the standings, but it will have value for morale and for all those aspects that only a derby can touch on, especially before the start of the playoffs. Here, tomorrow’s match is the starting point for the post season that coach Cardani’s team will want to approach in the best way after the sixteen consecutive victories achieved so far. One more reason to try to win the derby and show up for game 1 with sky high energy. All this to say that on the pitch the blue and whites certainly won’t let us lose. In the last match against Herons, in the final moments, Rubbini left the field in pain, but for the Bolognese point guard it was just cramps. The number 5 will be in the control room to lead the team as done up to now. The whole group trained in the Fauglia headquarters before going back to Modigliani (where the PL also trained on Wednesday) to become more and more familiar with the Porta a Terra facility. At the same time, the fans are also preparing, like any self-respecting derby, to color the curve and be ready for the most classic of back and forth between banners and teasing.
In addition to the desire to win the last regular season match, on Sunday we will often also look at the results of the other groups. Imola or San Severo, Caffè Toscano’s opponent in the first round will emerge from one of these two. The fans’ preference, for a rather obvious logistical issue, falls on the Emilians.
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Tags: Dont call useless derby Tirreno real match PalaModì
