Riso Scotti and Elachem down 2-0 in the quarterfinals with Livorno and San Miniato having two match balls. In the other challenges of the boards 1 and 2 the dominant field factor, only Omegna-Crema in equilibrium
PAVIA. Now it’s really tough. The sentence in game 2 was merciless for Vigevano and Pavia, both again defeated and under 0-2 in the play-off quarter-final series. This means that their respective rivals, Blukart Etrusca San Miniato and Libertas Livorno, have two match balls to close the discussion and fly to the semifinals, avoiding the insidious “beauty” of the fifth game (scheduled for Wednesday 26). Elachem and Riso Scotti with their backs to the wall, therefore, but also with the possibility, tomorrow evening (duo at 20.30) to question everything and to drag the opponents at least to race 4, scheduled for Sunday at 18.
The most delicate situation appears to be that of the ducals, beaten twice within the friendly walls of PalaBasletta and now forced to face San Miniato in its lair at the sports hall in via Fontevivo. What gives hope is above all the fact that even in race 2, as well as in the debut match of the series, Vigevano remained on the pitch for three periods, giving up only in the last: blitz against Federico Barsotti’s team, square yes but not irresistible and with weak points that must be better exploited by Tassone & C.
Similar speech for Pavia, which has always been able to make the best equipped Libertas suffer, but lacking the last meter necessary to prevail. After the two challenges at the Modigliani Forum, the game is played at PalaRavizza: an advantage that is more psychological than substantial, in times of Covid with the facilities closed to the public and therefore without a fan-friendly effect but which can still have its weight. Livorno with more quality than Scotti, but with limited spare parts: in the long run, with such close commitments, fatigue could be felt, favoring the chances of comeback of Di Bella’s guys.
In the other quarter-finals series, relative to draws 1 and 2, in which Vigevano and Pavia are inserted, the host teams are at 2-0, with the sole exception of Omegna-Crema in perfect equality after the bang of the Lombards in game 2 (78 -82). Another embarkation taken by Fiorenzuola in Chiusi (98-62 for the Sienese, after the almost identical 97-59 of race 1). Cremona is also bad in Rimini (88-62 for the Romagna), while Bernareggio struggles with Faenza.
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