Important milestone for Pistoia basketball, which reaches 10 play-off participations. The first time was in 92/93
A double digit which means a lot for basketball Pistoia, which after the last qualification for the play-offs is celebrating the milestone of 10 participations in the Serie A post-season. A history spanning more than thirty years and which begins in the times of Olympia, at the end of the 1992/93 regular seasonand which ends today with the newly promoted Estra again among the best eight of the championship.
OLIMPIA AMONG THE GREATS
In 1993 the then Kleenex Pistoia led, among others, by Joe Binion, it achieved the eighth place in the championship. Then they played also the round of 16given that the top ten of the regular season qualified: a sort of play-in where the “worst” teams on the scoreboard had to face each other first in a real playoff. Pistoia won the series against Livorno only to fall in the next one against the future Italian champions Virtus Bologna.
|
|
|
For the next five seasons, the appointment with the play-offs was fixed. In ’94 Kleenex (ninth) failed to repeat itself and exited in the first round after three matches against Trevisowhile in ’95 Madigan (which finished tenth) did the same with Verona. The following year they saw the quarterfinals again: Pistoia (which finished ninth) beat Verona in the round of 16 only to be eliminated again from VuNere.
Then we get to 1997, where the then Rolly qualified from tenth and immediately interrupted his play-off journey against Varese. Finally came ninth place in ’98: Pistoia, sponsored by Mabo, went out again in the first round, making Virtus Roma advance. The last chapter of a great storybefore the relegation and, above all, the rebirth as Pistoia Basketball 2000.
RED AND WHITES AT THE PLAY-OFFS
Much easier to remember recent history, which goes back exactly ten years ago when Giorgio Tesi Group Pistoia coached by Paolo Moretti they took the play-offs as newly promoted teams just like what happened today. Different formula but same rules of engagement, with eighth place this time meaning face the top of the classthat is, an Olimpia Milano that appeared absolutely prohibitive. The “Flying Devils”as the red and whites were nicknamed, forced the Milanese to five very tough races before giving up.
Two years later, with Enzino Esposito at the helm, the historical record arrived: sixth place at the end of the regular season (tied this season). The scoreboard put one of the best teams in the championship ahead of Pistoia, Avellinowho managed to carry out a sweep and close the series without conceding a victory to the red and whites. In 2016/17, it finally arrived the last qualification: The Flexx Pistoia, seventh in the tournament, met Reyer Venezia, future Italian champion. It ended 3-1 for the lagoon playerswith two beautiful matches at PalaCarrara.
