Simoncelli: «The decisive phase of the season begins»
The captain returned from the cartilage injury that kept him out for six games. The Lions have not been able to count on Alex Simoncelli since the Reggio Calabria match. In practice a third of the races played so far. The point guard returned with Trapani (23') and then in the last match won at home against Omegna he was on the pitch for 33'. The leg responds well, now it's just a matter of finding the best condition again. «Physically I'm at 40%, certainly in a month I'll be much better – he says –, but I feel good». The captain had to grit his teeth with Omegna due to the absence of Marks and essentially Iannilli (he was only in the match for five minutes). «The last few minutes I was on the pitch I was in a bit of difficulty. We played a good match against a very different team from the first leg. We were intense despite being short on rotation. We are a team that fights and doesn't feel sorry for ourselves. Iannilli and Bianchi tried and gave their contribution. We have already shown in other circumstances that we have a big heart." On Sunday at 18pm at PalaOltrepo the match with Agrigento is worth second place (Moncada 24, Orsi 22), after which there is the heartfelt derby at Casale (18). «Let's think about one match at a time – says Simoncelli – Agrigento is the strongest team in the group with Scafati. In the first leg we played an excellent match and only lost at the end (86-80). We hope to get some teammates back and then we play in front of our fans who support us. Farmhouse? I understand it's a derby, but I don't think about it. We have arrived at a decisive moment of the season. With a string of victories you can play for the top positions, otherwise you risk being sucked into the mid-table group." In addition to veterans like Simoncelli, Garri or Brooks there is also a group of young people who have grown a lot since the beginning of the year. «Like Spissu and Bianchi, but also those who have less space during training learn and improve: the advice I give them is to train hard and be hungry», explains the player who has been playing for Derthona for two years, lives in Corso Alessandria in Tortona and he integrated perfectly with the city and the fans. «Tortona is a warm place, the fans feel the game. Now I know many people, it happens that while walking they stop me to ask me how things are going. It's very nice for a player to know that there is heat. The company is establishing itself and is seen as serious and credible."
