Applause, despite everything: lSerie A basketball leaves Casale after 19 consecutive years but the Palasport takes it well. The knockout against Umana Chiusi costs Novipiù direct relegationwithout going through the salvation phase, which would have brought a significant dose of money and made the pill to swallow less bitter.
Instead, Chiusi will be the one to extend the season, by virtue of the 99-88 on the Piedmontese stage but, above all, the slip suffered by Orzinuovi, beaten by Agrigento who remains alive. Stories of a sad Sunday, epilogue of an unfortunate season in which the Monferrato team put their best foot forward, with questionable choices, useful in reducing to the bare bones an already short roster that wasn’t exactly equipped with talent.
With Martinoni out, but praised by the usual love from a public that hopes to have him also in Serie B, Cova’s options are reduced to a minimum and the determination of Pepper, Calzavara and Fall, always the last to give up, cannot be enough to subvert the inertia of an uphill match.
Simply, as demonstrated by the 6 out of 10 in the clock phase, Chiusi has more, in every sense and deserves to continue his path, despite the rossoblù’s commendable efforts. A separate chapter for Kelly, who started like a rocket and blew out quickly, like the candles on a birthday cake on a windy day. Too many wrong decisions for the American, as often happened during a championship that was sufficient in terms of numbers, less so in terms of performance.
Those numbers are too meager, only seven victories since October, to think about maintaining the A2. Having escaped relegation a year ago, Casale now drops to Serie B, a sad reality. It remains to be understood with what spirit and budget to tackle it but, for this, there will be time.
