Kurt Cassar’s Janus Fabriano secured promotion to Serie A2 on Wednesday after beating Cividale 69-53 in the deciding Game Five of the final series. This confirms the side as Serie B champions for the 2020-21 season.
Fabriano had looked the better side as they lead the series 2-0 after the first two games of the series. But with only one more win needed to win it all, they conceded Games Three and Four as Cividale tied the series to force a deciding Game Five on Wednesday.
The Malta center put up double digits on the night as he scored 10 points in 22 minutes on court. He added six rebounds as Fabriano only lost the first quarter, cruising past Cividale in the rest of the game.
This win is Cassar’s first-ever title win in his professional career in Italy and assures his return to the Serie A2, the league he had started the 2020-21 season in, with Pallacanestro Orzinuovi.
Due to a lack of minutes, Cassar had made the switch to Serie B in January and this has proved fruitful as the Malta international was instrumental to Fabriano’s success this season.
Contacted by the Times of Malta amid celebrations, Cassar could hardly put his happiness into words. However, he said that winning the title means a lot to him.
“I’m very happy right now! This is my first trophy in Italy – I have never won anything here before. It’s the first time I’ve won an important league,” Cassar said.
“It’s been a very difficult year, right until the end. I hope it will be the first trophy of many!”
Soon after their win on Wednesday, the club posted on its socials initiating celebrations.
“Celebrations have already started in the city centre, I think I’ve seen around a thousand supporters here celebrating!” Cassar said.
“We’ll be having some official dinners later on, but we have yet to find out what’s next in our celebrations.”
Cassar will be off to Malta after this to join the National setup ahead of their title defence in the Games for the Small Countries of Europe in August.
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