It was supposed to be Pordenone, but instead it will be Gardonese. A tough, physical team with a good dose of talent: these are the main characteristics of Ferrara Basket’s opponents in the first round of the playoffs, starting on Wednesday evening (8.45pm) at the Bondi Arena. The Brescian team reached the post season thanks to the away success in the last round of the Play-Ins on the field of league leaders Sangiorgese: a heart-pounding epilogue, considering that until three minutes from the end Gardonese was eight points down and everything suggested to a series between Ferrara and Pordenone.
Instead, the push came that handed the playoffs to coach Perucchetti’s army: the Biancazzurri would perhaps have preferred to play the Friulians again, but they will certainly start with the odds, if only for the fact that they have the field on their side. And also for a staff that overall is superior to that of Gardonese, which in any case can count on some dangerous players: above all the former player Ignacio Davico, who in the two Play-In matches literally drove the defense crazy Este.
For him 28 points scored both in the first leg and in the second leg, and the feeling of being in front of a player who has collected less than he could have in his career: Ferrara will place the eyes of his rearguard on him, as well as on the other winger Motta, averaging 11.7 points this season. Under the basket, Yarbanga’s athleticism will have to contend with the centimeters of Airaghi (10.5 ppg) and Graziano (8.3), players who are not exactly talented but who make intensity and physical prowess their strengths. Coach Benedetto, who will speak today on the eve of game one, has had two weeks to study the countermoves and get to the series as best as possible: today we officially enter the playoff atmosphere, the countdown towards the first act of the post season has started.
Jacopo Cavallini
