A Euroleague week for Bertram: tomorrow friendly with Milan in the Cittadella dello Sport, Saturday challenge against Partizan Belgrade
The level of Bertram Derthona 's preseason testing has risen significantly . Coach Walter De Raffaele's Bianconeri are on the eve of four days in which they will face two Euroleague teams in the two key events of their summer preparation, at least in terms of their opponents' prestige, following previous matches against Swiss side Monthey-Clablais and newly promoted Libertas Livorno to Serie A2. The game begins tomorrow against EA7 Emporio Armani Milano , continuing on Saturday in Sicily with a challenge against Partizan Belgrade in the semifinal of the four-team tournament organized by Trapani Shark.
EXPECTATION: The Derthona community is particularly focused, not only because of its chronological imminence, on tomorrow's match at 6:30 PM against the three-time defending Italian champions. Wednesday, September 4th will go down in the history of the Lions club. The opening—for the first time since its construction—of the court at the Cittadella dello Sport "Pietro e Marcellino Gavio" facility in Tortona for a basketball game has created great anticipation among Tortona fans and beyond since the moment it was announced. There is enormous curiosity to see and "test" one of the Cittadella's two playing facilities, already in use since the summer of 2023 for the training of Bertram and the BCC Derthona Basket women's team, in anticipation of the inauguration of the 5,000-seat arena that will become Bertram's new home during the current season. Adding to the excitement is, of course, the caliber of their opponents, who immediately set a high tempo in last Saturday's home opener against Openjobmetis Varese, defeated by Ettore Messina's men 112-71 with the scoreboard reset at the end of each quarter. Three former Milanese players are among the home team: Tommaso Baldasso, newcomer Paul Biligha, both with two league titles under their belts while playing for Olimpia, and Ismael Kamagate. On the other side, new co-captain Giampaolo Ricci played for Tortona in 2016/17.
ADMISSION Access to the game is reserved exclusively for the 200 first-time season ticket holders for Bertram's 18 guaranteed home games in Serie A and the Basketball Champions League. Gates open at 17:30 PM, only for ticket holders.
LUIGINO FASSINO FIELD The match against Milan will also mark the occasion when the parquet on which the match will be played will be named after Luigino Fassino , a longtime icon of Derthona's management. The tribute ceremony will take place a few minutes before kick-off.
MEDIA The match commentary will be broadcast live via Youtube on our Derthona Official TV channel.
