The Forlì of basketball was unfortunate to lose perhaps its best player to injury on the eve of the decisive matches, but it can still provide quite a bit of satisfaction. This is the opinion of some Unieuro supporters ahead of the key moment of the season (match 1 of the quarterfinals will be Sunday at the Palafiera against Vigevano).
Paola Zamboni, perhaps the ‘grandmother’ of the red and white fans, appears optimistic: “I was dragged to the sports hall by my grandson for several years now: I’m 86 now. The team will also react well to the absence of the American Kadeem Allen. I His teammates will be able to make up for his absence and I am sure that if we manage to win the series against Vigevano we will be able to move forward to go to A1.” It will certainly be a ‘hot’ match: “I’m worried about the climate in which it will be played, especially on Sunday after the accident at the match a few weeks ago in Lombardy”.
Roberta Flamigni, 59 years old, secretary at Morgagni-Pierantoni and historic fan, believes that the Forlì of basketball will lead the way: “It was a fantastic year, we came first for the second year in a row also because we have the best coach in the world. Italy and a super president. Vigevano will be a good team, but we are ready to welcome them home and then ready to go away. I believe in going through to the next round, but we can do it as long as Xavier Johnson stays calm and only thinks about playing. My favorite player? Coach Martino! But when captain Daniele Cinciarini is on the pitch he always manages to put his signature on the match.”
Beatrice Lamio is also confident, “a dedicated and passionate fan who empathizes with our players” as she defines herself: she is 40 years old, she is spokesperson for the mayor Gian Luca Zattini and, for a few days, councilor of the IOR (Romagna oncology institute): ” The injury to Allen’s Achilles tendon confirms that in recent years we have had sensational bad luck and this is even more disappointing because we have a solid club that does things well, a good curve and a team that has given us many victories, including the Italian Cup which was truly exciting. However, I am very confident and want to see the glass half full, convinced that the Forlì fans will be an added value that must make the difference. The renewal of coach Martino was a great move and great news because our coach always gives the team that little bit extra.”
The progress of Basketball 2015 in the regular season surprised the architect Alessandro Lucchi, 55 years old, author of the installations at San Domenico, always present at the Palafiera with his family: “I didn’t think we could repeat last year, instead we did even better I feared that promotion was too big a goal, but the purchase of a pivot like Daniele Magro made me change my mind. Even if Udine, Cantù and Turin are better equipped than us, I think we will give everyone a hard time, especially. if a spirit is ignited that exalts us in difficulties.” Lucchi criticizes the regulation that prevents an American player from being changed due to injury: “I’m perplexed.”
A concept that espouses Luigi Giulianini, born in 1961, known to all as ‘Gigi’, sales manager: “It is not correct not to allow substitutions. But we can do it against Vigevano because the talent is there, the group is there too and the coach will be able to regroup the group even more. And then the fans from Forlì will have to help the team even more and applaud a club that has proven to be good, serious and competent.”
