A Final Four dream to keep alive: at PalaEnergica Bertram seeks the 1-1 point in the BCL quarterfinals with Tenerife. Squarcina's words
It's not a game like any other. In many ways, it's THE game. The one to win at all costs to continue the adventure in the Champions League quarterfinals. Game 2 against La Laguna Tenerife, scheduled for 18:30 p.m. tomorrow, Wednesday 16 April, at the PalaEnergica Paolo Ferraris in Casale Monferrato, represents the opportunity for Bertram Derthona Tortona to think big in a prestigious context, with qualification for the Final Four in the background. A large crowd is expected to beat one of the strongest European teams of the season and force them to the "final" the following Wednesday on the Canary Island. The feat seems more within reach after what was seen exactly a week ago in game 1 in Tenerife, where the team coached by Walter De Raffale came within a whisker of conquering the parquet of the dominator of the current edition of the BCL, winning only in overtime by 93-89 after having seen from very close the spectre of the first European defeat in thirteen games played.
IMITATE THE… REAL The Canaries arrive in Casale three days after facing the clash at the top of the Spanish championship with Real Madrid, against whom coach Txus Vidorreta's team was playing for the possibility of catching them at the top of the standings after 27 rounds. Real instead prevailed on the island by 79-68, leading the match from start to finish with even wide margins for several stretches and interrupting a streak of 10 victories in the championship for the yellow and blacks, who had not lost overall since January 12, the date of the first leg also against Real. To return to scare an opponent that has always belonged to the nobility of the BCL, won twice (2017, 2022) and in which it has reached the final on two other occasions (2019 and 2024), the black and white team will have to once again outdo itself to try to enter even more into the history of the competition. We need to win game 2 and then give it our all in Tenerife to book our ticket to the Final Four on May 9-11. The dream, long cherished at the “Santiago Martin” in San Cristobal de La Laguna, needs to be nurtured again and then made a splendid reality in game 3.
WHERE TO SEE IT ON TV The race will be broadcast live on DAZN.
STATEMENTS “It is obvious that on our part the awareness of being able to beat Tenerife has increased after having come really close to their home”, says the assistant coach Iacopo Squarcina. "The important thing is not to transform this awareness into superficiality, we must always keep the level of concentration high, not think that at home it is easier. Indeed, to an even greater extent we will have to show a performance in which we go to hit their weaknesses in a constant and lucid manner, knowing that their quality is really high anyway. Therefore, we will have to be able to respond 360 degrees, in attack and defense, individually and as a team. The main adjustments compared to game-1 - keep it going - will be linked to the fact of limiting their ability to pass the ball, therefore managing to not make their ball-sharing so fluid. While offensively we will have to manage, despite the tiredness and the period, to increase the pace a bit and find baskets that give energy to us and enthusiasm to the crowd. Then, be solid in the mid-court in attacking the main targets without getting carried away by the game, by the fact of taking a hasty shot, by thinking that it is an important game and we have to show off. Instead, no, we have to keep our heads down, try to tire out their reference points Huertas and Shermadini and then not lose the great battery of shooters they have at their disposal. It will be an important close-out game, it will be a challenge of fighting for rebounds, we have to hold on mentally and gather all the energy we have because there is truly a great desire to return to Tenerife”.
