Novipiù Monferrato – Fortitudo

Italy - Serie A2, Round 24

18/02/2024 18:00 CET

In the second matchday of the Legadue's round-robin phase, Fortitudo Bologna will play this Sunday at 6 PM in Casale Monferrato without Matteo Fantinelli, who has sprained his ankle and will be sidelined for about three weeks. Initially, there were fears that his season might have ended prematurely. His injury has overshadowed that of Ogden, which is significant in its own right. Ogden's participation is uncertain, and if he does play, it's clear he won't be at his best. Bolpin, despite dealing with physical issues, is confirmed to be on the team sheet. Clearly, Fortitudo won't be showcasing their best health-wise, posing a challenge given the team's limited roster depth, despite its quality starting five. On the other side, it's noteworthy that Bologna's team finished second in their group, while Casale Monferrato struggled near the bottom, aiming for an easy survival but instead facing significant challenges, with a record of five wins and eighteen losses. The team has not won at home for two months, despite having Kelly, who averages twenty points per game. He is supported by Calzavara, the point guard, and Fantoma, the forward, both scoring in double digits. Another American, Pepper, boasts solid stats with 17 points and 7 rebounds. Under the basket, Martinoni is capable of stepping out and hitting three-pointers, averaging 13 points and 7 rebounds. Casale is coached by an ex-Virtus player, Fabio Di Bella, who will undoubtedly receive a warm reception from Fortitudo fans. Known for a fast-paced playing style as a player, Di Bella, as a coach, adapts to his players' strengths, though not having a player as skilled as himself. His counterpart, Attilio Caja, is a master of defense strategies, having revitalized Aradori, a formidable attacker. Fortitudo scores an average of 76.5 points but allows just 71 points to their opponents. Aradori leads the team with 18.2 points per game, but Ogden's participation, who averages 15.5 points, is uncertain. Freeman, a key player under the basket, averages 14 points and nearly 8 rebounds. The team will miss Fantinelli's 9.6 points and his 6.3 assists, a significant loss. Panni, currently averaging 4.6 points and 1.5 assists per game, is expected to step up. It remains to be seen if Fortitudo can demonstrate their superiority, even without being at their best.