We have reached the end of the journey: 30th day of LBA, last of the regular season, and Estra Pistoia Basket will face off in a sold out PalaCarrara against Openjobmetis Varese, an opponent with whom they faced in the first championship match in early October. A lifetime ago, one might say, and now it’s time for the red and whites to have a big party, in front of their fans, to celebrate the salvation achieved a month early and the crazy goal of the playoffs. And it is precisely for the best possible position in the post-season that this match will be played which, however, for the guests has nothing to say as they are already safe. Ball at two hours 6.15pm (Match sponsor Lo Conte Edile Costruzioni Srl, referees Lanzarini from Bologna, Bettini from Bologna, Catani from Pescara).
COACH BRIENZA’S IMPRESSIONS.
After the blitz in Trento, which gave the mathematical certainty of winning the playoffs 40 minutes before the end of the regular season, the team returned to the gym even more convinced of their ability to face this match in the best possible way in order to then find out who will be the opponent in the playoff quarterfinals.
“It will be very nice and gratifying to think of playing the last match at home without worries about rankings but to enjoy the match and prepare ourselves as best as possible for the playoffs – states coach Nicola Brienza – it will be a moment of sharing with the fans but, fortunately, we have there is still something to be done and it must necessarily be a step towards what we will have to do from next week: this is why I say that we must make the most of it.
At the moment, however, I’m not making any calculations about who I’d like to meet in the playoffs: just as it was in the Italian Cup, we know we deservedly be in the top eight because, excluding the first few days, we’ve always been in there but, at the same time , we find ourselves in the role of Cinderella who snuck in. The first four are of another level and have demonstrated it all year and, at this moment, choosing one as an opponent over another would be presumptuous. All we have to do is enjoy the moment: we will have at least three chances to turn the prediction around and we will try to do the best we can having ten months of experience on our side and therefore continuing on our path aware that, every now and then, miracles come true.”
Before the playoff series, however, great consideration must be given to this weekend’s match against Openjobmetis Varese which will also be decisive for the final position.
“It would be something incredible to reach the end of the championship and have collected more successes away from home than those within our friendly walls, so we will do our best to ensure that this does not happen – continues the coach of Estra Pistoia Basket – we know well how many
Communication Area – Press Officer
AS Pistoia Basket 2000
Our fans are close to us and they demonstrated it again today with 40 people watching the shooting session on Saturday morning.
We will find a completely different team in front of us compared to the first leg match, which was played a lifetime ago, so there is no point in making comparisons. Let’s consider the strength of Varese, the investments they have made having signed a player like Nico Mannion who is from the Euroleague. We will try to play a great game knowing that they have a lot of quality and the proof is the victory they had in Sassari a few weeks ago where they scored from every position with all their players. We hope not to stumble upon one of their particularly inspired days and we will do our best to complicate their life: this is why I say that the final result counts for us to bring our balance of victories at home into the black but, above all, because it is a beautiful test bed for our path towards the playoffs.”
Source: AS Pistoia Basket 2000 Communication Area
