Three consecutive playoffs in A2 in the three previous seasons, with the conquest of promotion to Serie A as captain on the magical night in Turin in game 4 at the PalaRuffini. Then the arrival in LBA and the declared objective, as newly promoted players, of salvation to be achieved knowing that there would be suffering. Probably, in all of this, Gianluca Della Rosa he hadn’t planned on playing his fourth consecutive playoffs but, now, it’s time to enjoy them: match 1 is already scheduled for Sunday 12 May at the “PalaLeonessa” against Germani Brescia, time at 8.45pm.
“Being among the top eight in the rankings is wonderful at the end of the regular season – admits the red and white captain – none of us, as well as all the professionals, could think of this result. We did it thanks to the strength of our team: it is a unique emotion and, on a personal level, it is a further incentive to do well. We enjoy this moment, obviously, and we know how great the difficulties we will encounter are. The way I think, considering that each of the top four is very strong, Brescia is the one that can give us the most trouble from the point of view of the series, but we will go out on the pitch as always to do our best, knowing that we have achieved salvation in advance which was a remarkable satisfaction and, what’s more, now the playoffs with the final sixth place which is a crazy achievement.”
For Gianluca Della Rosa, leader and fan, as well as player and captain, more emotions to experience with the red and white shirt sewn on him…
“I realized what we did this Monday when we had the meeting with the referees and the other teams that qualified for the playoffs – Della Rosa reveals this anecdote – and for me to be there alongside players like Belinelli, Melli, Della Valle is incredible, a unique emotion. If I look back and think back to four years ago when, in the post-Covid year, we narrowly entered the A2 playoffs, losing 3-0 to Napoli, I say that time has passed but that we have achieved some good things satisfactions. It all coincided with the arrival of our coach, Nicola Brienza, and from there this wonderful three-year period began for me, for the team and for all the fans which is continuing in recent weeks.”
The values on the pitch are the known ones, and written by the rankings after 30 days of the championship, but now we are all starting from scratch and each team will have to sweat the qualifications for the next rounds like never before.
“Maybe we are the greatest experts in playoffs in A2 and less so in Serie A – smiles Della Rosa – but I don’t think there are many differences in how to face them, even if the level and physicality are much higher and we have to be ready. We must not and cannot already give away matches for lost but, on the contrary, leave for Brescia with the mentality of the team going there to play on equal terms and then calling everything into question in our fort. Of course, it makes me laugh to think about what our regular season was, having achieved more victories away from home than in via Fermi, but let’s never forget that PalaCarrara is a sensational factor and will certainly give us a hand in game 3. Brescia is the team that impressed me the most this season in terms of physicality: anything can happen, it’s clear but, to date, this is my thought. We lost both times to them, they are long and big but we are studying in detail how to overcome the difficulties and are fully confident for this series.”