Fast Coffee Villanova Tigers are coming off three painful consecutive knockouts. The playoffs are now unattainable, and president Meluzzi’s troop was joined in fifth by Massa, Riccione and Artusiana at 30.
On Wednesday 24 April at 9.15pm there is the possibility of redemption: International Imola arrives at the Tigers Arena, 24 points in the standings (and 1 more race). The Imola team bullied Omega in the last round, scoring 85 points (and conceding only 58). The Tigers remain by far the most productive team in the group (2,084 points) but also concede (2,045).
The first leg ended 71-85 for the Tigers of Villa Verucchio. Antonio Simoni (Bologna) and Francesco Zanni from Comacchio (Fe) referee.
“The defeat against Baricella makes us slip into eighth position on equal points with three other teams who have tied us to 30 points and this almost definitively condemns us out of the playoff race, with 5 games left in the regular season. – is the coach of the Tigers, Michele Amadori – The three consecutive defeats knocked us out, even on an emotional level. I saw the boys playing with little enthusiasm and in some cases even with little cohesion. It’s not easy to react after heavy defeats in the standings, especially when you play well, create a lot but don’t finish enough, losing games by very few points. On Wednesday at the Tigers Arena we will have the chance to get some sand out of our gears: we need a reaction of pride, we need to be particularly united in this moment of difficulty. I want to see communication, support, encouragement and – if necessary – some constructive criticism, all things that haven’t been seen in the last few appearances and it’s no coincidence that we find ourselves out of the playoffs.”
The green and white skipper is convinced: “Technically we lack nothing, even on a tactical level we are absolutely not inferior, simply in the three games we lost we lacked concreteness, very low shooting percentages and we faded especially in the final moments, when usually must give something more. Against Imola we will have to focus on shots, we cannot give space to their wingers, who are very dangerous from beyond the arc: they are intense and play a lot on second shots. We will need presence on the rebound, to play in the open field and take advantage of our best characteristics.”
Amadori charges the group: “We’re playing at home, in front of our always large crowd, it’s time to react and smile again, we need a high-level performance, from a technical and competitive point of view.”
In the photo: Bomb in action
Tags: International Imola reaction
