Cantù goes to Udine in search of salvation: a star player in strong doubt

The Udine challenge between Apu r Acqua S.Bernardo Cantù will open the third last round of the championship. In case of success in the 6:15 p.m. advance on Saturday, April 25, the biancoblù will celebrate mathematical salvation on the parquet of PalaCarnera.

“Of course this is an important game,” said Walter De Raffaele. We will meet a team that will arrive motivated, still having hopes of hooking the playoff train. Udine has a mix of experienced players and young prospects, who have had a good season. It is the team that captures the most rebounds in the entire league, so this aspect will obviously be one of the keys to the game.”

“As for us, we will try to play the best game to bring home the result and thus achieve our goal. From the physical point of view, we are managing some situations, while Bortolani has not yet recovered from the illness that had already affected him in the game with Varese and we will evaluate his possible employment on Saturday,” added the coach of the Brianzoli.

Coach Adriano Vertemati’s team has already reached the goal of salvation. A few days ago, former Cantù Anthony Hickey, whose leadership translates into an average of 13.9 points and 5 assists, returned to lead the team. Playing alongside him is Semaj Christon, the Bianconeri’s top scorer with 14.4 points per game. With two combo-guards so distinctly offensive, the third starting outside forward is wing Iris Ikangi, who provides balance and defensive skills. In the starting big wing role Udine fields the most talented player on the roster: Lithuanian Eimantas Bendzius (10.9 points average), who pairs under the boards with rock-solid center Christian Mekowulu. Among the year’s revelation players is undoubtedly APU’s sixth man: captain Mirza Alibegovic, author of a monstrous 12.8-point-a-game season and a series of decisive baskets in the Friulans’ victories. In addition to him, also stole the show was point guard Andrea Calzavara, on whom there already seem to be the eyes of the league’s bigs. Coach Vertemati gives several minutes to the experienced, and another former of the challenge, Matteo Da Ros, but also to the eclectic wing Aubrey Dawkins. Finally, another center with a considerable impact in the pitturato like Skylar Spencer closes the rotations.