Olimpia arrives at its sixth match of 2024 fresh from the defeat against Red Star in which for the first time since playing with a roster decimated by absences it was unable to be fully competitive. The fact remains that of the last 13 matches played, counting from the home match against Virtus Bologna, they have won nine with three defeats coming in the sprint (at home against Panathinaikos, in Athens against Olympiacos, in Brescia). The match against Red Star was indeed an exception. The ability of the players who had been less used up to that point to be ready was decisive. Before Shavon Shields’ injury, Olimpia had won five out of six matches; then he won four out of seven but only with Red Star was he not threatening. With this data to support her, she faces Tortona, this time with a two-day break between one race and the next. The Piedmontese team, which played in the Scudetto semi-final in the last two seasons, is fresh from the success against Scafati and the European defeat in Istanbul against Galatasaray. He also reworked the roster with the arrival of Colbey Ross after that of Amine Noua, and replaced the historic coach Marco Ramondino with the very experienced Walter De Raffaele. Among the reasons for the match was also the return as an opponent of Tommaso Baldasso, who won two championships in Milan, playing well the role of a useful player in training and decisive in exploiting the few minutes available in the match.
NOTE – EA7 Emporio Armani Milano-Bertram Yachts Tortona will be played on Sunday 14 January at 5pm at the Forum. Click here to purchase tickets.
THE REFEREES – Guido Giovannetti, Andrea Perciavalle, Giacomo Dori.
COACH MARIO FIORETTI – “Even if Tortona is a team that is looking for a new balance after the change of coach, which occurred only a few weeks ago, we will have to pay great attention to the two players who at the moment are the engines of their system, Colbey Ross and Tommy Baldasso, effective both in the open field and with the defense lined up. As we have often done in the last period, we will have to be good at facing different types of defense deployed, moving the ball in the correct way.”