Apu, Lacey is ready for the semifinal but Boniciolli loses Esposito

UDINE. The play-off semifinal is approaching and the APU finds Trevor Lacey. The US guard, after having almost entirely missed the quarterfinals series with San Severo due to injury, is ready to return to the court to ensure his contribution of class and experience.

RECOVERY OK

Both Tuesday 17 and Wednesday 18 May Lacey worked separately for a simple precaution, but by Thursday she should be back to train with the rest of the group and pick up the pace for Sunday’s match.

«Clinically he is well – underlines Alessandro Grassi, medical director of APU – and he is at the coach’s disposal. Sepulcri staff made this assessment from an athletic point of view simply out of a form of caution.

The player has undergone the appropriate therapies, has no symptoms and is fine. The exams after race one with San Severo showed a strong contracture in the right hamstring, but without injuries. A pathology that usually requires 10 to 15 days of stop, the recovery times have been respected ».

By Sunday Lacey will be in good condition, the medical staff consider him ready for an important job.

NEW FACE

Last Sunday in San Severo coach Boniciolli had to rely on an all-Italian quintet for most of the match, due to the absence of Lacey and the whims of Walters. Now that the bar is raised, the contribution of the two stars and stripes players must be found: we need a healthy Lacey and a more serene Walters for the battles that are to come.

Statistics show that almost all of the bianconeri’s seasonal defeats came when one of the two Americans was missing, having both back in top condition is a “conditio sine qua non” to reach the fateful goal of promotion.

CROWDED INFIRMARY

For a Lacey returning there is an Esposito forced to stop. The exams to which the Italian-American player underwent tell of a second degree left ankle sprain: recovery times estimated in 10-15 days.

This means that Esposito will certainly have to miss the first two games of the semifinal. The goal is to be able to have him back for race three, scheduled for Friday 27 May. The Juventus infirmary is quite crowded after the two battles in San Severo.

Italian grits his teeth for a first degree sprained ankle, even yesterday he trained separately as a precaution, but he has the warrior spirit shown in race four and on Sunday he will be in the match.

Stitches for Walters and Mussini: five for the first, hit in the chin during game three, two on the lid of the right eye for the second, due to a blow suffered on Saturday in training.