by Elisa Fiorini
Ferrara Basket 2018 makes no mistakes at home at the Bondi Arena and gives itself the “beautiful” victory. In the home match, the Ferrarese raised the pace and intensity, digging a path from the first minutes against a disoriented Fidenza Basket, dragged only by its two stars Valdo and Bellini.
Parallel to the victory of the Ferrara team, news also arrives from the other side of the scoreboard: Bergamo unexpectedly beats Sangiorgese and reaches the playoff final. Therefore, if Ferrara Basket were to win on Sunday, they would reach the final stage of the series with the home advantage in their favour. But let’s not look too far ahead, let’s talk about Game 2.
“Today we put in great energy and commitment – coach Giovanni Benedetto begins in the press conference – now we must be concentrated towards a single objective: winning in Fidenza. There is no difference in baskets, we just have to win. We need to raise our level even away from home.” Ferrara Basket won in the bedlam of the Bondi Arena, “an important crowd despite it being a B2. I was surprised, it made me really happy to see so many people. Tonight’s support gives us the desire and courage to perform a miracle and reach the final.”
Looking back at game 2, it is clear that Ferrara did not nullify the large advantage it had accumulated, as happened in the past, but managed its score wisely with patience and maturity. “At home we have always been able to manage, with the exception perhaps of the last match against Gardonese, which I still congratulate. Now we need concreteness on the road: we have to play at other people’s homes like tonight.”
A very complicated match on paper on Sunday: “They play zone with us, after game 2, where they created some problems for us, they will probably repeat themselves – continues assistant coach Marco Castaldi – even if we have shown that we are capable of take the right time. They will use their weapons, as will we. We were ready tonight, we will be ready on Sunday too.”
“We have become an aware team – concludes Benedetto -, now a final act of fire awaits us, whoever wins wins, whoever loses ends the season here. We must give everything in these 40 minutes that await us. Now there is no point in talking about a possible final, we have to think only and exclusively about Fidenza. To get to the bottom of the playoffs you need 6 wins, now we’ve reached 3: we still have a long way to go.”
