All in 40 minutes, as long as they are enough. It will be a real play-off, the one scheduled at the Pala Arti Grafiche Reggiani in Ozzano, for the Bisceglie Lions, involved in the last round of the regular season of group B of the National Old Wild West Serie B. On Sunday 21 April, with tap-off at 6pm on all courts, we will play to define the positions in the rankings. The team coached by Agostino Origlio is aiming for the twelfth success which would allow them, net of all calculations, to acquire the home advantage advantage already in the first round of the survival play-offs. An opportunity that the team doesn’t want to miss.
THE NERAZZURRI – The well-deserved applause for the excellent performance shown in the home match against San Severo did a lot of good for the morale of the group, which has acquired ever greater confidence and awareness in recent weeks and wants to continue to grow. The final stage (of 34) of the exhausting championship faced up and down Italy is an opportunity to be seized: Fontana and his teammates, by winning, would support and overtake their opponents by virtue of the 2-0 in direct clashes, taking at least 15th place. The stakes will be significant and this was understood very well in these days, characterized by excellent intensity in training. There will be many, albeit from a distance, cheering for the Lions in front of the screen set up, as usual, in the internal spaces of the PalaDolmen.
COACH ORIGLIO’S PREMATCH – «We are perfectly aware of the fact that this match is a crossroads for the composition of the playout grid: we know that placing as high as possible can have a certain value which certainly would not guarantee you anything certain even if it is clear that having the field factor can be an important element in terms of salvation. We will face a healthy team as demonstrated by their last three consecutive victories, obtained over Imola and Ruvo at home and in Roseto, with evidence of absolute solidity and an average of 86.7 points scored despite the absence of Alessandro Piazza. We will have to keep several focuses in mind to express ourselves at their current level: dirtying the shooting percentages, not conceding easy points and being balanced in attack.
The admirable team performance against San Severo gave us a great technical and emotional boost, which I hope the team can also exploit on Sunday. We still have to manage the injuries, it hasn’t been an easy week from this point of view but my players have shown that by going through difficulties and staying united, great results can be achieved.”
THE OPPONENTS – An overall record of 12 victories in 33 matches, a prevailing field factor (9 successes against 7 internal stops) and an open streak of three consecutive victories. These are the credentials with which Ozzano will present himself at the last “dance” of the regular season. The Emilian club changed coach at the beginning of November, with the dismissal of Gabriele Giuliani (record 1-5) who was replaced by Augusto Conti (11-16). The inclusion during construction of the pivot Giacomo Filippini, leaving Jesi, has strengthened the staff. The best scorer remains the expert winger Riccardo Cortese (14.3 points on average), while the 2004 Lionel Abega (13.1) is undoubtedly one of the most interesting young players of the entire tournament. The 22-year-old Costantino Bechi (12 points and 3 assists per game) joins the veteran Piazza in the control room.
REFEREES AND FIELD OFFICIALS – The match will be refereed by Luca Rezzoagli from Rapallo (Genoa) and Andrea Manganiello from San Giorgio del Sannio (Benevento). The officials’ table will be made up of Alessio Pio Ottaviano from Santarcangelo di Romagna (scorekeeper), Erica Bertoni from Forlimpopoli (timekeeper) and Sara Severi from Faenza (shot clock officer).
Tags: Serie Lions Bisceglie playout position Ozzano
