The “school group” of Edilnol (definition of Captain Infante) has been in the warm Sicilian sun since yesterday. Principal Zanchi is curious to see her struggling with her first test in class, the debut in the championship in Trapani. Two-ball at 17 and maybe by that time good news could also have arrived via e-mail: we await the yes of Kenny Hasbrouck, the American chosen to replace Tj Cromer. And, one minute after seeing the optimism of the last hours become a concrete thing, it will be racing against time (bureaucracy, connections and airports) to have him in Biella as soon as possible, so as to be able to give him a tank top in the starting quintet already in the debut at home.
In the meantime, however, we must give our best without him. «We will be ready – promises GM Damiano Olla -. The growth path of these weeks is under everyone’s eyes. We fought on an equal footing in the Super Cup and with Orzinuovi, doing well and fielding what we had prepared. We have always lacked the last piece, that pinch of cynicism that is needed to win games. The next step is to become concrete and get what we deserve ».
With or without an American leader, the test is tough but not prohibitive. Trapani arrives at its debut not at 100%. Simone Tomasini, the ex from Casale, will be in doubt until the end after a stop that has lasted from his Super Cup debut. The play Matteo Palermo, the captain Marco Mollura and the American guard Sekou Wiggs had physical problems in turn. Given the conditions of the opponents, Edilnol’s desire to play running could be a key to the match. Mollura also knows: «We are not at the maximum of our potential, as is normal. But we are excited for a challenge that we absolutely want to win ».
Biella, excluding the void in the role of American guard, is instead left in full force. In addition to the speed in attack and aggression in defense, the rossoblù can try to put the Sicilian grenades in difficulty even under the basket: without Renzi, passed to Orzinuovi after having remained in Sicily since 2014, in the painted area the alternatives of coach Parente there are not many. Compared to last year’s squad, the stars and stripes leader Corbett is also missing, capable of overturning the challenge of the Forum of the last championship almost by himself. The only ex is Federico Massone, in his first season in Trapani and his second away from Biella after his experience in Piacenza. “It will be a pleasure to meet him,” says Olla.
The feeling is that it will almost be a game of experiments between two teams under construction. The real Biella will begin with the arrival of the foreigner. In order to do it quickly and well, the club also made a little extra effort over the cash budget, with a sort of word of mouth among the members to reach the amount necessary to make a satisfactory offer for Hasbrouck. And also for Zanchi, who likes the American more than the cheaper alternative, the former Cremona Palmi.