After a long summer, tonight at 20.30pm theUnieuro He returns to the field for a season full of surprises, with a deep and very experienced roster, with many outfielders capable of causing damage and with two already well-known Americans who are as good at hitting as they are at doing the dirty work. Coach Antimo Martino, in his fourth season on the Forlì bench, will have to try to reach new heights and new challenges, to make the whole city dream.
The path of the new Unieuro starts from PalaRadi of Cremona, guest of Juvi, which, after surviving last year’s playoffs, is aiming to consolidate its position in Italy’s second division. Still led by Luca Bechi, Cremona has this year bet on two American wingers from other leagues: Billy Garrett is a combination with solid experience in Poland and, in his past, also four NBA appearances with the New York Knicks (in 2018/2019, a season in which Forlì native Kadeem Allen also played). Meanwhile, Travis McConico is a globetrotter waiting to be discovered (Sweden, Bulgaria, Finland, and Türkiye on his passport).
The Italian squad started with the confirmations of Andrea La Torre and the infield duo of Simone Barbante and Alessandro Morgillo. Among the new additions are the arrival of Alessandro Panni, who will return to prominence after his time at Fortitudo, and big man Edoardo Del Cadia, who is expected to take a further step forward after last year in Brindisi. There are also several young players on the rise: Gregorio Allinei and Vittorio Bartoli are seeking definitive recognition after their apprenticeship in this league, while Tommaso Vecchiola (a point guard from the Vanoli Cremona school) will try to play a key role in Serie A2 after an excellent last season in Serie B with Treviglio. Del Vecchio, Fiodo, and Di Croce complete the roster of the Cremonese team.
It won’t be an easy match for Unieuro, against a team that will be playing their debut at home with the ease of a team with nothing to lose. On the other hand, however, the caliber of the red and white roster is far superior, and starting off on the right foot seems undoubtedly within reach, although the first match of the season can always hold some surprises, especially for those who struggled defensively in preseason.
“We’re starting off on the road against a team we faced a few weeks ago, producing a balanced match,” coach Antimo Martino said. “We know that, in addition to limiting our upcoming opponents, it will be important to improve certain aspects of our system, such as defensive solidity and the fluidity of our attack. The team still has a lot of room for improvement, but the goal is to try, within this process, to achieve as many positive results as possible.”