The Gold scoreboard of the playoffs promises to be decidedly open to the “prediction” heading for the jump to Serie A, while the Silver scoreboard seems to leave less room for flights of fancy. Because there, Trapani is the candidate announced and designated for promotion. Just as the Sicilian team itself was at the beginning of the season. Maybe not with such arrogance, but certainly with well-founded credentials.
The truth, at present, is that it would be truly sensational if the Sharks did not get their hands on the next top championship. Strengthened by a pre-season dominance, manifested throughout the regular season, never put into question in the watch phase and indeed potentially even more accentuated following the hiring of two big names – for the category – such as Stefano Gentile and Amar Alibegovic . In short, if Trapani does not rise, we could find ourselves faced with a reverse miracle.
Match in hand
Then a further consideration should be made. That is to say, that in some excellences evident in the rest of the competition, the disappointment resulting from not reaching the objective would perhaps even be profound, but the missed Serie A would no longer constitute – now – a sensational surprise.
In order to argue in this regard, it is necessary to take a step back and position ourselves at the entrance gates of the season. When, almost general opinion, in addition to Trapani the most awaited teams were also those from Cantù, Udine and Trieste. Because the quality of their rosters – and the legitimate ambitions of their respective clubs – placed them as serious suspects. Obviously, since there were only two promotions, some would have remained in the playoffs with the match in hand.
But September’s theory clashed with the practice of the following months. Because neither Acqua S.Bernardo nor the two representatives of Friuli Venezia Giulia lived up to expectations. For the most varied and well-known reasons.
The lift
Cantù suffered a long series of defeats and despite having led a tournament at the top, he never gave the impression of “breaking”. To the point that, not too long ago, the promotion option almost appeared to go beyond the goals still considered within reach. Udine traveled under the radar, never seemed authoritative or authoritarian and experienced several ups and downs. Trieste, even, has remained disturbingly anonymous in the light of a “rose” that announced who knows what blooms and which instead had far too many thorns.
For these reasons, as we’re about to enter the month of May, it wouldn’t be that extraordinarily surprising if any of the three couldn’t get that elevator they booked last summer. Just as we wouldn’t be too surprised if Forlì remained anchored to the A2, even though it dictated the law in its own group and raised the Italian Cup to the sky. Because she has not yet been recognized as something that would bring her closer to the status of untouchable. In short, nothing should surprise us.
