Bertram's playoff sprint starts again from the leader Trapani. Coach De Raffaele's words
Six days to get back into the top eight of the standings. Bertram Derthona Tortona's sprint towards the end of the regular season resumes tomorrow, Saturday 5 April, with the home challenge against the league leaders Trapani Shark, arriving at the PalaEnergica Paolo Ferraris in Casale Monferrato at 20:30 for the 25th day of the Serie A Unipol. With the streak of 8 victories between the league and the Champions League interrupted and awaiting game-1 of the quarterfinals in Tenerife against the only undefeated team in the European cup, the Serie A menu also reserves another match for the black and white team against an opponent belonging to the highest level of the competition.
DRILLS A rookie sui generis, after four wins in a row the Sicilian team also comes from a defeat, on the parquet of Sassari (92-80), a knockout that cost them the first place alone but without dropping from the highest step, given that for the independent classification they are preferred for the moment to the other two leaders, Virtus Bologna and Brescia, tied with Trapani at 34 points. To the widespread talent that coach Jasmin Repesa can draw from, Bertram can also oppose the awareness of having already beaten them. With the 84-78 at the end of October, Derthona was the only team together with Bologna capable of conquering the PalaShark, a memory from which to draw strength together with the chorus of a group that wants to get back into that playoff zone in which they remained for 13 rounds in a row, before exiting last Sunday due to unfavorable direct clashes with Reggio Emilia and Venezia, the other teams at 28 points.
MATCH SPONSORS Simecom will be the match sponsor of the game against Trapani. Partner of the black and white club also in the current sports season, the electricity and gas supplier, active for over 70 years in the world of energy, will put a poster of the team on all the seats of the sports hall, while in its stand there will be a Selfie-Box where those who take a photo will receive a keychain with the double logo of Derthona and Simecom as a gift. For the DB Game at half time, the energy company will give the winner the official autographed jersey of Christian Vital.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Before the start of the match and during half-time, tickets will be available to buy at the ticket office to watch the second home game of the quarter-finals against La Laguna Tenerife, scheduled for Wednesday 2 April at 16:18.
STATEMENTS “Trapani is a long team with a lot of talent, they are playing a super season”, says coach Walter De Raffaele. “We will have to try to limit both their ability to punish you in the open field with many players and the turnovers, in addition to opposing them with a significant physical impact. The end of the season? We will live one game at a time, including the cup games. Injuries, physical condition and the mental presence of each player will make the difference”.
DERTHONA FOR CHILDREN OF TOGO AND TORTONA KENNEL Various social initiatives have been set up for tomorrow's match. In the space next to the Curva Sud of the PalaEnergica, there will be a stand by the Ignesa ODV Association to raise funds to support orphaned and vulnerable children in Togo, providing them with basic necessities, education and assistance, thus ensuring dignified living conditions and the hope of a better future. In collaboration with Animals Angels Novi, a stand will also be set up to sell personalized Derthona Easter Eggs (at a cost of €25 each), with the proceeds going to the Tortona Dog Kennel. The proceeds from the sale of lottery tickets (€3) will also go to the same dog shelter. The lottery will be drawn during the home match against Tenerife and will award five prizes, including the 6kg maxi-egg for the winning ticket.
