Italy – Basket Serie A, Round 30
Napoli vs. Scafati
Another spring slump for Napoli (88-74 on Reggiana's court), their seventh defeat in the last eight games. "It's a shame about the playoffs; we thought we deserved them," admits coach Milicic. While the club accuses technical mismanagement post-Coppa Italia, whose triumph seems to have satisfied Napoli's ambitions in hindsight. Things aren't any better in nearby Scafati: after a heavy home defeat against Sassari (74-99), the management apologized to the fans. "A huge embarrassment for our coach, his entire staff, and the 10 players on the field, if we can even call them that," blasts patron Longobardi. It's now expected that there will be a rebuilding phase in the summer, despite securing safety well in advance. However, Boniciolli's dismissal has been on the table all week. Both teams have little left, except for a high-stakes and symbolically important derby, especially for Scafati: those who hold back will face the jeers. Expectations are for over 160 total points, with the balance slightly leaning towards Napoli on paper.
Brescia vs. Brindisi
The Leonessa deflates at the worst moment: their second consecutive loss in Milan (83-77) likely means goodbye to the first place that Brescia held for so long (now third) during the season. "Now we need to play a real and serious game because it's the best way we know to prepare for the playoffs," prepares coach Magro, announcing extensive rotations to assess which players can be relied upon during the post-season. A relegated Brindisi will visit PalaLeonessa, the only team mathematically out of the running despite their late surge (84-80 against Reyer last Sunday and 3 wins in the last 4). Sneed and company will want to bid farewell to the league in style, but Brescia is playing in another league now. Literally: confidence in a more or less straightforward home win.
Cremona vs. Milan
Narrowly, Cremona succumbs to Pesaro in their last away game of the season (91-86) and prepares to bid farewell to PalaRadi with safety already secured. "It's a shame it's over because it's been a great year; we want to end it in the best possible way," Demis Cavina charges. And the best way would be to trip up the league leaders, Milan, who continue to rack up points and performances in Serie A (83-77 last Sunday against Brescia). The team rotates well, even with Mirotic taking a breather, thanks to Melli's rebounding effectiveness (8 against Leonessa) and the sharpshooting duo Shields-Napier (35 points combined). "This year we made the wrong choice of playmakers," sums up Ettore Messina. "It'll be tough from the quarterfinals onwards because there are more teams than usual vying for the title: we need to be ready." A victory might not be enough for the top spot - Virtus, level on points, holds the tiebreakers - but Milan is already in postseason mode: confidence in the red shoes, although Cremona may put up a fight.
Pistoia vs. Varese
A triumph for Pistoia in Trento: 80-105. Charlie Moore finishes with a double-double (21 points plus 10 assists), reversing their head-to-head with Aquila and landing them in sixth place. "We've earned these playoffs. This victory sends a strong signal, starting from the mental application and defense," applauds coach Brienza. With an impressive 8-7 away record, the Tuscan side aims to replicate their success at home. They'll need to defeat a Varese side already safe (thanks to favorable head-to-head records) but significantly faltering (5 losses in the last 7). "We're not rebounding well, even against Treviso (95-100), a disappointing performance and result," laments Tom Bialaszewski. Mannion and his teammates continue to excel offensively but will finish the season with the worst defense in the league, conceding over 90 points per game. Pistoia also tends to play at a high pace, and while they're prepared to accept Varese's challenge, it often works against them. Expect a high-scoring game, possibly exceeding 160 total points.
Sassari vs. Reggiana
Three-pointers, defense, and Tyree: at least Dinamo saves face, dominating Scafati (74-99). "There are regrets for missing out on the playoffs, but above all, we need to erase the last negative performance at home (88-112 against Varese) to honor the league and our fans," comments coach Markovic. "It's a shame because with a bit more attention, we could have played for sixth place against Reggio today." Instead, the story tells that the Emilians didn't lose their way; they'll likely finish fifth, and thanks to a fine win over Napoli (88-74 with a superb Faye, 24 points plus 10 rebounds), they'll avoid facing Milan or Bologna in the first round of the playoffs. "Congratulations to all my players: we've already achieved an important result; now let's move forward with the right humility," smiles Dimitris Priftis, who has been confirmed by the club for next season. Reggiana is ready for another upset, and Sassari, with a surge of pride, might secure the win because they have the quality. Expect a hard-fought match, potentially with a narrow margin and over 160 total points.
Treviso vs. Tortona
In their most critical moment, Treviso regroups and beats Varese: 95-100, thanks to the advantage built in the first quarter and an excellent Olisevicius (23 points). "Our destiny remains in our hands: on Sunday, we need to win for the PalaVerde crowd, for ourselves, and for the city," says Frank Vitucci, preparing for the game of the year. They'll face a Tortona in good form, already assured of a playoff spot - a remarkable achievement considering how their season started. However, the arrival of coach De Raffaele turned things around, and a painless defeat against Virtus (77-84) secured their place in the postseason. "I came here to ensure safety; being in the top eight is a small miracle," says the coach. The Piedmontese team will travel to Treviso with light hearts, and watch out for the twists and turns between the two coaches: last year, De Raffaele's tenure at Reyer ended after a loss to Vitucci (who was then coaching Brindisi). Will he have his revenge? The final outcome suggests caution - Treviso might even lose, if Pesaro doesn't win in Venice - but the hosts' chances lie in defensive consistency throughout the 40 minutes. And Tortona responds well to slow tempos, making it a close contest, inspiring a sum of points below 160.
Venezia vs. Pesaro
Led by the outstanding Matteo Tambone (24 points, 5 triples, and as many rebounds), Vuelle overcomes a resilient Cremona (91-86), offering a glimmer of hope to the Vitrifrigo Arena faithful. There's only one path that would keep the red and white in Serie A: defeating Venice at Taliercio and hoping for a simultaneous loss by Treviso. "It will be a challenging game, but we want to finish on a high and not dwell on regrets. The attitude in recent weeks has been encouraging," says coach Sacchetti, following 3 wins in the last 4 games that keep Pesaro's hopes alive. On paper, there's no contest at Reyer's home ground, but the orogranata already showed signs of holding back in Brindisi (84-80). The fourth spot has been secure for a while, and any talk of stepping aside would only complicate things for their historic rivals in Treviso. "Wearing this jersey means playing to win always," insists coach Spahija. That may be the case on paper, but expect surprises. Nonetheless, in a medium-to-high-scoring match, given the offensive propensity of both teams.
Virtus Bologna vs. Trento
A challenging spring, dashed EuroLeague hopes, yet Bologna could find solace in securing first place in the regular season. The victory in Tortona (77-84) sends them joint-top with Milan, but the head-to-head record favors Belinelli and his teammates. Simply winning at home against Trento will ensure they enter the playoffs as top seeds. For coach Banchi, it's the final test ahead of the grueling postseason, with potential roster cuts looming: Mickey, Dobric, and Lomazs are at risk of sitting out. Being ready against Aquila is a good omen to unsettle the coach's lineup choices. On the other side, Paolo Galbiati's team is already certain of the postseason. Perhaps too certain, considering the dramatic collapse in their last home game against Pistoia (80-105). "We're not this team; I feel more angry than worried," insists the coach. Expect an emotional response at the Segafredo Arena, but a reversal of fortunes is harder to predict. Victory and top spot for Virtus are on the cards. Then, everything resets from next week.