Italy – Basket Serie A, Round 18
Venezia-Trento, 27/01/24, CET 19:30
Emergency at Reyer's home after a disastrous week: Parks, Tucker, and Kabengele lost to injury, and the last chance for Eurocup slipped away after the subsequent internal collapse against Vilnius. The loss in Tortona has left the gold and orange with broken bones, much more than the loss of the first place in Serie A alone would suggest. The fact is that Trento is also coming off a bad period: 4 consecutive losses, with Eurocup equally draining Aquila's energies. The Taliercio is set for a match with a high degree of uncertainty between two teams with their backs against the wall, trying to honor the classic of the Northeast as best they can. Don't be fooled by the home advantage or the gap in the standings: it matters who has more, and at the moment, it's hard to say.
Scafati-Treviso, 27/01/24, CET 20:30
Campanians restrained in Pistoia (78-71), now seeking the push from PalaMangano, waiting for the fourth consecutive victory. Logan and company are always within reach of the playoffs, but they know they have to watch their backs. Especially in a direct clash like the one against Treviso: by beating Sassari in the last match (77-70), the Venetians continue to float. Very different teams. Scafati excels with high-paced play in open court, Treviso is more cerebral and relies on defensive continuity. Depending on the playing field, the favorite will emerge: on paper, the yellow and blue, who have rarely recently missed two in a row.
Brescia-Pistoia, 28/01/24, CET 16:30
Making a statement in Trentino (69-93), Brescia regains the solitary lead in the championship. Six players in double figures, +30 already at the end of the third quarter: traces of the Lion that has dominated Serie A for long stretches. Now, Coach Magro seeks the sixth consecutive home victory against a Pistoia invigorated by the success over Scafati but now far from the overflowing autumn rhythms. The drop in performance of the Willis-Moore duo has a double interpretation: on the one hand, it takes the wild cards out of Coach Brienza's hand; on the other, it shows that there is a real team around the superstars. Otherwise, there wouldn't have been 3 wins in the last 4. Enough to keep a tight grip on the eighth place, not enough to secure a coup in Brescia. Where a home victory is also expected with a 10-point lead.
Milano-Sassari, 28/01/24, CET 17:00
Olimpia is becoming more reliable in Serie A, at least against mid-to-low-ranking teams. Sassari feels like an intruder in the middle but has not yet demonstrated the necessary solidity to pull off an upset away against a big team: the recent defeat in Treviso (77-70) confirms this once again. Therefore, the scenario is opposite to the first leg, where the Sardinians won narrowly against a wounded Milan. Today, Melli and his teammates have more reference points – starting with the captain. Messina's contract renewal until 2026 is a sign of serenity, and they just need to keep the machine running. Then accelerate in the EuroLeague. Yes to Olimpia's victory, potentially by more than 10 points.
Pesaro-Brindisi, 28/01/24, CET 18:00
High-tension match at the Vitrifrigo Arena. Vuelle is in total blackout – 5 consecutive losses, 7 in the last 8 – and has yet to reap the rewards of the coaching change, with Sacchetti replacing Buscaglia. Rotations are a puzzle, Bamforth's playmaking still plagued by physical issues, and the specter of relegation is increasingly looming (record 5-12). Even more so if a victory against Brindisi (3-14) does not come on Sunday, which, in their last game against Napoli, lost yet another close one (77-80). Anything can come out of it: Pesaro has the worst home performance in the league (2-7), the Apulians have never won away (0-8). And the push of the home crowd will be countered by the Bartley factor. A game to be handled with care, with around 160 total points, with the balance slightly in favor of the red and white.
Virtus Bologna-Napoli, 28/01/24, CET 18:15
With a great defensive performance, the black and greens conquer Varese (69-81) and catch up with Reyer in second place. It's logical that attention is focused on the EuroLeague, with the final stages of the regular season getting more intense. But in Serie A, Bologna needs another boost; until now, they've conceded a few too many setbacks (12-5), and on Sunday, they will face a team in great form like Napoli. Pullen and company are coming off 4 consecutive wins, closely following Virtus (11-6), and are ready to face it head-on. Prepare for the technically highest-level challenge of the weekend: Napoli will fight hard, but the Segafredo Arena is a fortress (7-1 for Bologna), and Virtus – even narrowly – wants to celebrate Hackett's contract renewal.
Tortona-Reggiana, 28/01/24, CET 18:30
There's all the adrenaline of a year of inactivity in the unrestrained celebration of Walter De Raffaele after the significant victory as a former against Venice (75-69). The arrival of the Livorno coach has given new life to Tortona (7-10), and the playoff chase has just begun: it's essential not to take the foot off the accelerator. A serene Reggiana arrives in Casale Monferrato (10-7), fresh from a good win against Cremona (78-71) thanks to Kevin Hervey's outstanding performance (23+7+4). But Tortona has resumed pushing at home, the Emilians struggle away, and the first leg match (77-90) shows that Weems and company have good mismatches to exploit. Sunday will be a game, but a home victory under 160 total points is intriguing.
Cremona-Varese, 28/01/24, CET 19:30
Reggio's misstep pushes Cremona (8-9) out of the playoff zone. But the return of Denegri and company to PalaRadi feels like oxygen: 5 wins in the last 6 that make up a good part of the blue-and-white standings. On the other hand, Varese's attack has stalled, within the prohibitive match against Bologna, which is not representative. And the journey in the Europe Cup has become promising again. Thanks to the increasingly decisive Nico Mannion, around whom the team has rallied and aims to continue the climb: first, salvation, then who knows. A game to be played entirely, between two teams with opposite DNA: Cremona bites in defense without giving up duels, Varese, if in form from beyond the arc, can be troublesome. Consider a total score above 160 points.