Cecco Vescovi: Della Valle is the key man for Openjobmetis

Context

In brief

• «Luci a Masnago» analyzed the debut against Virtus Bologna
• Vescovi identifies Della Valle as Varese's key player
• Della Valle is set to miss Scafati and Murcia
• The game against Bologna drew 5.394 spectators

Key facts

• Program → «Luci a Masnago»
• Broadcaster → Radio Materia
• Guest → Cecco Vescovi
• Opponent → Virtus Bologna
• Absences → McDowell White and Amedeo Della Valle
• Attendance → 5.394 spectators
• Next opponent → Longobardi Scafati
• European debut → Murcia, Basketball Champions League

Openjobmetis Varese's home debut against Virtus Bologna, at the Masnago sports hall, opened the second season of «Luci a Masnago» with a false start. The final result left a bitter taste, but the program also scrutinized the way the game unfolded.

The first episode of the second season of the Radio Materia program, hosted by Damiano Franzetti, Francesco Brezzi and Luca Antonelli, was dedicated to the clash with the Bologna side and the difficulties shown by the red-and-white team. The special guest was Cecco Vescovi, the record-holder for appearances in Pallacanestro Varese's history, winner of the 1999 scudetto and now general manager of GEAS Sesto San Giovanni, a team in the top women's league.

Vescovi took part in the discussion about the current Openjobmetis, also recalling his long red-and-white past and his connection with the Masnago sports hall.

Assessing the debut

In the technical analysis, the starting point was Virtus's physicality and the approach with which Bologna played the game. According to Vescovi, these elements exposed Varese's structural difficulties, as the team took the court without McDowell White and Amedeo Della Valle.

The two absences were considered particularly significant because they concern the positions from which all the play begins. Vescovi identified Virtus as the worst opponent to face on the first day of the season because of the type of basketball played by Openjobmetis: both teams like to play at speed, but Bologna was more accustomed to responding to that volume of play. Against another team capable of maintaining a more normal pace, the impact could have been different.

The discussion focused above all on Della Valle, the player around whom the team was built. Vescovi described him as follows:

«He is far too important an addition to do without: he is an incredible impact player who produces for himself and others, drawing the defense and creating space.»

His return, together with that of McDowell White, is considered crucial when Varese needs to slow down, change pace or reverse unfavorable momentum. Della Valle can draw a foul, go to the free-throw line, run the pick-and-roll and help the team think. When the game proceeds at a gallop throughout, however, the risk Vescovi identified is that of absorbing pressure without managing to regain control of the game.

Operational details

The most personal segment of the episode concerned the bond between Cecco Vescovi and the Masnago sports hall. As a player born and raised in Varese, the former red-and-white player retraced his long relationship with the Pallacanestro Varese environment and linked those memories to the situation of the current captain.

The recipient of the advice was Matteo Librizzi, also from Varese and now the team captain. Vescovi suggested that he not stop at the level he had reached and not settle for what he currently had. The advice was to always seek new avenues for his game and remain committed to improving at every opportunity.

The reasoning starts from familiarity with the place where one grew up. Playing at home is comfortable, but that very comfort can lead one to sit back, that is, to stop looking for new room for improvement. Vescovi acknowledged having made the same mistake when he was young and hoped that Librizzi would not repeat that path. The message addressed to the captain therefore concerns personal and technical growth, beyond simply performing in the next game.

The other topics of the program

The episode did not focus solely on the men's team. Women's basketball was also discussed during the program, with the new feature curated by Marco Pinti. The broadcast also analyzed the red-and-whites' next opponent, Longobardi Scafati, placing the upcoming game within the context of the issues left open after the debut.

There was also room for the Masnago venue, which had shown some organizational problems during the game against Virtus. The attendance figure was nevertheless significant: 5.394 spectators were recorded in the stands.

The number was mentioned during the brief segment dedicated to the arena, together with the difficulties that emerged during the first home game. The attention paid to the venue concerned not only the organization of the game, but also the elements that shape the spectators' experience. The audio was identified as a traditional Achilles' heel of the facility, while the lighting was included among the aspects set to improve.

The subject of the arena thus stood alongside the technical aspect and the one linked to the red-and-white history. On the one hand, there was the analysis of absences and the pace of the game; on the other, Vescovi's relationship with Masnago and the advice addressed to Librizzi; in between, the content dedicated to women's basketball, the next game and the condition of the venue.

The broadcast therefore brought together commentary on the debut, the memory of Pallacanestro Varese and updates on the setting surrounding the team's games.

Key points

For Openjobmetis, what comes next, as outlined in the episode, is marked by the upcoming fixtures and the situation of the two injured players. Pallacanestro Varese is keeping information about McDowell White confidential: the extent of his muscular problem is not known exactly.

Amedeo Della Valle, meanwhile, is still working separately. The reported forecast is that he will almost certainly be absent on Sunday in Scafati and on Wednesday in Murcia, where the team playing under the Itelyum brand will make its Basketball Champions League debut.

The first game on the schedule is against Longobardi Scafati, scheduled for Sunday 4 at 17. For Varese, this is the next step after the home debut against Virtus, but the outlook for the game remains tied to the availability of the two players mentioned during the broadcast.

The second fixture is in Murcia, where the Itelyum-branded team is set to make its European debut. The gap between the two fixtures was highlighted together with Della Valle's probable absence, as he continues to work separately. For McDowell White, meanwhile, the muscular problem remains without a precise assessment reported in the episode.

Meanwhile, an old friend of Varese has changed teams: Bryant Dunston has signed with Olympiacos. The news was mentioned in the part dedicated to Europe, alongside the team's imminent debut in Basketball Champions League.

As for the arena, starting with the next game, both the sound system and the lighting should improve significantly, if everything goes smoothly. The stated aim is to fix the long-standing sound problem and make the atmosphere at the game more intense for the fans.

With the start of the league, «Dal Parquet» also returned to the air, the VareseNews podcast that comments on all Openjobmetis games. The first episode is available in the dedicated box and on listening platforms. This is the content accompanying the new phase of the season, as the team prepares for the games in Scafati and Murcia and awaits more precise updates on the injured players.

Source: varesenews.it