Kurt Cassar (centre) and other teammates applaud at the end of their series-winning game against PSA. Photo: Janus Fabriano
Malta international Kurt Cassar and Janus Fabriano face their second test in the Serie B playoffs on Sunday when they play fellow Group C team Rucker San Vendemiano in the semi-finals.
Fabriano have faced fifth seed Vendemiano a number of times this season, with their last meeting being a 92-78 win for top seed Fabriano earlier this month. This was incidentally also Cassar’s highest-scoring game so far this season as he got a career-high 19 points, achieving a double-double with 11 rebounds on the day as well.
The side have progressed into the second round of the post-season after eliminating their quarter-final opponents Partenope Sant’Antimo – the eighth seed from group D – with a comeback which saw them win their series 3-1 after Game Four last Sunday.
Cassar scored seven points, adding five rebounds on Sunday. The side opened with a 12-point lead at the end of the first quarter before suffering two tough quarters in the second and third. They made up in the final quarter to take the game 76-67.
Speaking to the club’s socials, Fabriano coach Lorenza Pansa lauded his side’s character while having nothing but praise for their opponents.
′′ We played a more want-than-quality game, compared to Game two and Game three, but we knew the match would go on these tracks,” Pansa said.
“We have to compliment PSA who have talent and energy to quietly play a semi-final. They had their backs against the wall, and we knew they wouldn’t let us play, we were good enough to stay united in the moment of truth and brought it home in the end.
“From this series, we bring the awareness of being able to play a good basketball and character in times of difficulty, things to improve we can always find them; now we recharge our batteries and think about this semi-final.”
San Vendemiano progressed after beating Tecnoswitch Ruvo di Puglia with the same 3-1 score.
Game One of the Janus Fabriano versus Rucker San Vendemiano tips off on Sunday (19.00).
