Three defeats in a row for Fortitudo. It will be an additional obstacle for Sella

And it's a derby: tomorrow night Fortitudo arrives in Cento (8:30 p.m.). One year and one month after the last meeting at the Baltur Arena, Caja's team returns to visit the red and whites, for a challenge that has become a great classic in recent years in Serie A2, between the regular season and the playoffs. From the starting tapes of the 22/23 season, cut together in the match triumphed by Mecacci's Benedetto by 70-64 with 22 points by Nique Archie, up to the defeat of last October 16th at the Paladozza, with Mian and his teammates overwhelming Di Paolantonio's group like an avalanche, frayed and dispersed from the very first moments. In between, like any self-respecting derby, there were also some very heated challenges, such as those in the 2023 spring playoff series. Cento easily won game 1, before running into the Candussi-Cucci duo, protagonists in the second round won by Aquila 88-74, who managed to repeat the feat a few days later at the Paladozza, and then sweating blood in the fourth act, triumphing at the photo finish thanks to a 'magata' by Nazzareno Italiano, followed by the error on the shot of the potential victory by Giovanni Tomassini, who went off on the iron, shattering Cento's dreams after a memorable and unforgettable ride.

Also in that season, to be noted under Christmas, on December 22nd '22, also the Tomassini-day at the Paladozza, with the 34 points of the Pesaro winger who condemned the Eagle with three-pointers, giving a magical night to the red and white people. A victory each last year, the aforementioned exploit of Benedetto (61-57), with the annexed 'Delfino-dance' at the end of the game in front of the former Fortitudo fans, and the 84-72 in the blue and white colors in the first leg match played in November (20 by Ogden and 19 by Freeman). Before that, there were the times of Di Trani and Mabilia, pirates in Piazza Azzarita, but also of Rosselli and Mancinelli, victorious at the PalaSavena in 2019, at the time home of Benedetto. Tomorrow a new chapter, with Effe arriving at the appointment unexpectedly in full crisis (3 knockouts in a row), after the sumptuous and rapid climb in the standings dragged by force by Attilio Caja, who replaced Cagnardi. The bad performance in Turin last Wednesday then led to further changes in the locker room: in Menalo and out the American Thomas, a graft chosen to replace the injured Gabriel, who will still be out for a while (among those absent also the playmaker Sabatini).

The best, in terms of average performance, is still the big Deshawn Freeman (15 points and 8 rebounds), followed by a growing Mian (12 points, with 42% from the arc), supported in directing by captain Fantinelli (8.4 assists). To rise again, Caja will also have to rely on Aradori, more shadows than lights however for the former Italian in the last month: just 9 points scored in the last 3, with 4/18 from the field.

John Poggi