Call it intelligent lightness. Yes, the one with which the Old Wild West will have to play match 5 of the semifinal against Scafati tomorrow evening at 7pm. Simply the match of the year. It is Fabio Mian, 29 years old from Moraro, who returned to Friuli not even a month ago, from the top floor of Serie A to return to heaven together with the Apu, who coined the term.
With some of the boys from Boniciolli, yesterday, having landed in Ronchi, after a quick snack, he also returned to Carnera to train. In short: the disappointment of Scafati’s race 4, escaped for some shots spat out by the iron, was scorching, but already metabolized. «Immediately after the siren, already in the locker room – explains the former Cremona and, at the time of the youth teams, former CBU Udine – we couldn’t wait to play game 5 and bring home the series. If after Game 3 we were disappointed not to have used the opportunity, Sunday evening we were already loaded for Wednesday ».
Those shots came out of a nothing though …
«It happens, it’s basketball. We played two games point to point, but always in control, game 3 went wrong, on Sunday we recovered and lost by nothing. Now we simply have to direct the game immediately without having to chase: it takes an intelligent lightness ».
Like the one you showed on Sunday in the comeback?
«Yes, there we had nothing to lose and we started playing as we know how. Let’s start from there and let’s take what this group, as I have seen in the last month, deserves for the work it puts into the gym and its cohesion ».
Another Friulian, Nobile, was shot down for this wrong shot.
“Instead Vito must be proud of the play-offs he is doing and of having been on the pitch to make that shot.”
The warm environment of Scafati?
“I expected worse. The public did not influence us, perhaps they sent some referee whistles. It’s normal”.
What about that three-pointer of yours throwing yourself backwards after an offensive rebound?
“Didn’t the shots enter? They taught me to stay mentally in the game with the little things, a rebound, a recovered ball, it’s a pity that he went out with fouls ».
Did you imagine Serie A2 like this?
«Let’s say I found a basketball a little … raw, a lot of blows. The less you complain, the better: it is a challenge that I like ».
Are you leaving a door open to the APU for the future?
«I arrived to help the group play for the Serie A. I didn’t want to arrive and break the existing equilibrium and I think I succeeded. I want to help this group that is solid and will do anything to win. Then we will see with the company ».
Who surprised you the most on the team?
«I like those players who want to play, even if they know they don’t play much. Here is Schina, Deangeli and Mobio for their age are surprising: good ».
And the coach?
«There is no need to introduce Boniciolli, he has been training for twenty years. He has experience to sell and I’m getting along well with him ».
Virtus Bologna has just won the Scudetto, yet you with Cremona had beaten it at home in October …
«We were a new team, we lost thirty points with Trieste and twenty with Reyer then we went to Bologna to play the game of our life. The black Vu surprised me not for winning the Scudetto but for beating Milan 4-0. Bologna was not the favorite. But he played with intelligent lightness. As we should do tomorrow and then with Naples, because that’s where we want to arrive ».