The Cittadella match against Trapani is nearing a sellout: "They have a clear playing style."
Bertram Derthona Tortona returns home, fresh from an 89-75 loss at Dolomiti Energia Trentino. Trapani Shark will be playing at the Cittadella dello Sport on Saturday, October 25th at 20:30 PM—live on Sky Sport Uno (channel 201), Sky Sport Basket (channel 205), and LBATV —coached by Jasmin Repesa, who reunites with Mario Fioretti after their shared experience from 2015 to 2017 on the Olimpia Milano coaching staff.
It will be an opportunity to once again embrace the Juventus fans, who have responded: on the eve of the fourth league match, fewer than 300 tickets are missing from selling out in the stands at the Arena.
Paul Biligha was perfect from the field against Trento.
How do the two teams arrive?
Not playing in the Basketball Champions League during the week, Trapani is coming off three wins out of three in the LBA and two European defeats against La Laguna Tenerife and Tofas Bursa.
Undefeated in the league, they opened their season by defeating Trieste in Friuli (91-87), prevailed at home against Reyer Venezia (109-102 DTS) and swept the PalaDesio by defeating Cantù (81-63). Currently, the Granata are in ninth place with 2 points due to a 4-point penalty.
As previously mentioned, Derthona Basket suffered its first defeat of the championship in Trentino after two consecutive victories against Milan and Treviso.
Trapani Shark under the microscope
Jasmin Repesa's team is certainly one of the most in form at the start of the championship, capable of prevailing in games that are different due to opponents and dynamics of the game. They are first in assists (22.3), second in points (93.7), third in rebounds (40.3) and fourth in steals (7.7) on average in LBA,
As demonstrated by the Sicilians' Pace of 76.5 (third in LBA), that is, the average number of possessions per game, Trapani is a team that thrives at a high tempo; Bertram, in this last category, is second to last (69.3) in the championship but has demonstrated versatility in its first three games.
Two new additions are driving the Sicilians in this start of the championship: Timothy Allen, MVP of the Finals in the 2024-25 BNXT League, who is currently averaging 18.7 points and 3.3 rebounds, and Jordan Ford, arrived from Trento, who has collected 18.3 points per game with 44.4% from three and 4.7 assists on average.
In addition to the new signings, Paul Eboua is also having a stellar start to the season: he's recorded double-doubles in his last two games (12 points and 14 rebounds against Venice, 18 points and 16 rebounds against Cantù). John Petrucelli has also made an excellent impact, averaging 14.0 points, 3.7 assists, and 1.7 rebounds in his first three games, including an MVP-caliber 24-point performance against Venice.
Andrea Vicenzutto's point
As usual, one of Coach Fioretti's assistants introduces the weekend's matchup. According to Andrea Vicenzutto, rebounding will be a key factor against Trapani, especially considering how the Bianconeri struggled in that area during their away game against Trento.
"The aspect we struggled with in Trento will definitely be something we'll need to address against Trapani as well: we've focused on this issue both technically and mentally to be ready for a different game. They'll have a lot of players rebounding, and limiting second possessions will definitely be one of the key keys to the game," he says.
Trapani has restarted with several confirmed players, while also adding high-caliber players for our league. "Starting with a core of players and obviously a coach from last season, they've probably had a small advantage in terms of chemistry at this early stage," he adds.
Andrea Vicenzutto during the last home match.
"You can see they have a clear idea of the game. Coach Repesa is doing an excellent job, and the team's performances demonstrate it. They suffered two losses in the BCL, but they were close and against strong teams. They were undoubtedly not easy games."
"We got to know Ford last year here in Italy: he can score in so many ways. Allen, on the other hand, comes from a really important league, where he was also the MVP in the Finals. In addition to being able to score in so many ways, he has remarkable physicality. Right now without Notae, Petrucelli has also managed to increase his physicality among their guards," adds Vicenzutto.
"At the big men, in addition to Sanogo, Eboua, and Alibegovic, who are well-known players in Europe as well as in Italy, the addition of Hurt could provide even more offensive threat over time. He hasn't been great so far this season due to some aches and pains, but he showed great things last season."
Eboua himself will be a particular focus, given his recent performances. "He's getting better and better every year. This start to the season speaks volumes about a top-notch player. He impressed me with his physicality and consistency; in the forward line, he'll be one of the players to watch most," he concludes.
Charity initiatives during Derthona-Trapani
Furthermore, the challenge against the Sicilians will be under the banner of pink: like every October, Derthona Basket supports the AIRC Pink Ribbon campaign against breast cancer.
Free pink pins will be distributed to the public to show support for women fighting the disease, while all of our entertainment team's entrances onto the pitch will be illuminated with pink lights. Finally, before the match and during halftime, a video supporting AIRC research will be shown on the cube's giant screen.
Another initiative will take place on Saturday evening. Derthona Basket is promoting an online fundraiser to support Filippo Quagliolo, the young coach of Don Bosco Crocetta Torino who, at the end of July, suffered a fractured vertebra in his neck while on vacation in Portugal.
After a long hospital stay in Coimbra, where he underwent surgery and began his rehabilitation, which is now continuing at the CTO Hospital in Turin, the fundraising effort initially served to bring him safely back to Italy.
To this day, the team continues to ensure he receives the best possible rehabilitation, including essential aids and adaptations for his daily life. During the game, the message "SUPPORT FILIPPO!" will appear on the cube's giant screen, and by scanning the QR code that appears, you can participate in the fundraising campaign.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Ciamillo-Castoria Agency)
