Fortitudo-Brindisi, a thousand intersections. Ogden the ace in Bucchi's sleeve

How many intersections on the axis Bologna - Brindisi. Former opponents, a coach from Bologna who confirms the saying "No one is a prophet in his own country" and a derby in the family, are the ideas that add even more spice to a challenge that, at the beginning of the season, was announced as a confrontation between two teams aiming for the promotion and which now presents itself as two teams that after a difficult start appear to be recovering and aiming to improve the standings in view of the playoff. Without bothering the one who made the recent history of both teams, Adrian Banks, the one born in Brindisi would be in all respects still under contract with Fortitudo even if he is not included in the roster, Marco Giuri. Then there is the most anticipated ex, Mark Ogden. The Californian was the great protagonist in Flats Service that last season came within a whisker of promotion, losing only to Trapani. A series that remained indigestible at Fortitudo, see the words of president Stefano Tedeschi.

Ogden is recovering from rehabilitation after a fracture of the second metatarsal of his left foot. At the end of October in Brindisi they took cover by hiring for two months the Cape Verdean with Portuguese passport Ivan Almeida, with a 2-month contract that has given the team a hand while waiting for Ogden's return. Tomorrow, precisely.

Anyone who was born in Bologna, but except for the first experiences at youth level, with Virtus, is Peter Bucchi. Piero, 66 years old, began his long pilgrimage back in 1992 when he was called to Rimini. From there, the passage from north to south, including the islands, from Treviso to Naples, with stops in Milan, Rome and Pesaro, Sassari, to return last year for a second time to Brindisi.

A Bolognese called for the umpteenth time in his career as dean of the benches to measure himself against a team from his city, even if to tell the truth he won't be the only one, since there will be another on the field.

Bucchi's squad includes Gianmarco Arletti, son of Umberto, president of the Academy. Twenty-three years old on December 25, "Gianma", a big fan of Effe, after the youth sector in Bologna and the experience in the United States first at the High School with Holy Cross and in the Ncaa with Delaware, made his debut in the senior world in A2 last season in Udine and then moved to Brindisi in the summer.

Father against son, as will happen on January 5th with Udine for the Alibegovics, with Teo against Mirza, in the next home match after Brindisi and the away match in Pesaro on the 29th. Many twists in what will effectively be the last home match of the year for a Fortitudo that with the Caja treatment, 4 wins out of 5 games played, seems to have changed pace. If we want the same can be said for Brindisi that after the 1-7 at the start of the championship, has engaged the high gears by scoring 6 wins in the last 8 matches.

Finally, there is also talk of the market, given Sabatini's injury. Luca Vencato, 29 years old, and also the former Leo Candi, 27, are possible.