Reggio Emilia, Dimitris Priftis revives European challenge

Reduced by the defeat at home of Napoli Basketball in the championship (95-87 for the Neapolitans in the match played on Sunday), Una Hotels Reggio Emilia plunges back into the FIBA Europe Cup adventure with the ambition to seize a three out of three that would most likely be decisive for qualification to the second phase of the tournament.

Facing them on Wednesday at 8 p.m. is Cibona Zagreb, a formation that similarly beat, in the first two days of Group J, the other two teams in the grouping, Bashkimi and Dijon. Dimitris Priftis, coach of Reggiana, issued his very personal challenge to the Croatian club: “Tomorrow night’s game is a crucial one for both teams, especially for us because we play at home” he said.

“Cibona has managed to win the first two games and is in the same situation as us – added Priftis. “We know that with this format only the first in the group goes through and there is some chance for the second ones, but we want to aim to do the best we can. It will be a difficult match against a talented and very organized lineup. They prepare and read well the matches they play, mixing experienced players with the freshness of some young people”.

In the first two games of the first phase of the FIBA Europe Cup, Reggio Emilia first defeated Dijon on the road 96-88, dragged by Cheatham’s 21 points, then overwhelmed Bashkimi, a Kosovar club, at home with a net 100-65 in which a 16-point, 6-rebound and 3-assist Barford shone.