PAVIA – This evening at PalaRavizza the curtain rises on the quarter-finals of the interregional Serie B2 play-offs for the Scotti Pavia ricewhich addresses the Virtus Siena in game 1. The Pavia team, ranked fourth in the second phase of the play-in, are playing for access to the semi-final against an experienced and combative team like the Tuscan team, fifth in the standings.
Coach Davide Cristelli he has no doubts: “The playoffs are always special games, and we must be happy to play them. Now the hunger must increase. We know we had a good championship, but Siena will come here to do well. We must be ready and give our best to defend our fort, PalaRavizza, where we have only lost one match all season.”
On the other hand, Pavia will have the advantage of playing game 1 and game 3 (if any) at home, a factor that could prove decisive. The conditions of Pesenato and Ferretti for Pavia need to be monitored, while Siena should not have any particular staffing problems.
The extra weapon for Riso Scotti could be the home crowd. “I want to appeal to the fans to make PalaRavizza a bedlam on Sunday – he has declared Francesco Gravaghi21 year old point guard from Pavia – The fans are a great help to us and, despite the May Day long weekend, I hope that many will come to support us. We have only lost once at home and we have to keep the fort untouched to get through to the next round.”
Siena, fresh from a defeat at PalaRavizza in the first leg of the play in gold, has experience and pace on the outside. The Lombards will have to impose their game and not be caught in transition. “It will be an interesting series – commented coach Cristelli – What was seen during the year is reset to zero. We will have to be good in defense and impose our pace. The play-offs are always the most stimulating matches, and we are ready for this challenge.”
In short, all the ingredients are there for a compelling and hard-fought series. The Pavia fans are ready to push their team towards victory. All we have to do is wait until Sunday to find out how this first act of the quarter-finals will end.
