Fortitudo challenges Pesaro in A2 playoffs: Fantinelli's recovery is fundamental
Fortitudo faces Pesaro in the A2 playoffs with Fantinelli recovering. Access to the quarterfinals against Cantù is at stake.

Peter Aradori vs. Rimini (Ciamillo)
Certainly if you take a look at the Brindisi's amazing run, last of the seeding play in and that in just 4 days has conquered the parquet of the more quoted Avellino and Verona thus reaching the playoffs of A2 against Rimini, one could think of a few more fears for the Fortitudo of coach Attilio Caja. Because by extension, also seeing the past in the regular season (0-2), the challenge tonight at 20,30 against Pesaro could be more complicated from an emotional point of view. It is true that a few more days of rest, especially in a season dotted with injuries, can only have done good to the white and blues, who with the recovery of captain Matthew Fantinelli they will have an indispensable point of reference, especially in attack. But it is equally certain, and the example of Brindisi is clear proof of this, that arriving with 40 minutes more in the legs is not necessarily to be seen as a disadvantage, especially when the stakes are worth a season. Here is the central question: what is at stake?
Whoever wins tonight will face Cantu in the quarterfinals, a very high hurdle to overcome given the status of the Brianza team as a contender for promotion to Serie A. True. However, if you look at it from another perspective, the weight of this big match is that of the success or failure of a sporting year. This is because Fortitudo started out as several favorites by virtue of the quasi-masterpiece of June 2024 and not having immediately achieved promotion, or in any case not having had privileged access to the playoff grid, has weakened the plans of the coach and the club. Which in any case, according to the president's planning Stefano Tedeschi, who on the day of his inauguration had given the 2025/2026 season as the deadline for returning to the top flight, is still on time to fulfill such an important wish.
Therefore it is not so much the result in itself this evening (which ça va sans dire can be one and only one) but how we will get there. So the abundant week of rest is good, useful for the recovery of the captain and for a general review to ensure that the match against Pesaro is not the last match at the PalaDozza.
The victory in Livorno has certainly helped on a mental level to interrupt a negative trend (4 consecutive knockouts), but for Caja's men it is forbidden to think that tonight is an appendix of the regular season and not the antechamber of the playoffs.
A difference that is both subtle and decisive to take to the field with a different spirit: see Brindisi once again. Full team, except for Gerardo Sabatini, a few tickets still on sale, but the atmosphere is very hot for a challenge between two old rivals.
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