The date of the match between Virtus Bologna and Pallacanestro Reggiana, valid for the 28th day of the LBA, remains under discussion. Everything will depend on the result of the EuroLeague play-in between the Bianconeri and Baskonia, set for Friday at 8.30pm Italian time in Vitoria.
The League has, as explained in the official press release, applied the regulation. Virtus Bologna has in fact requested the postponement to Monday in the event of a defeat against the Basques, which would exclude participation in the EuroLeague playoffs.
The LBA recalled articles 5.1 paragraph 1 of the Sports Regulations, which guarantee presidential action: «Taking into account the regularity of the Championship, the President can order advances and postponements» for television or objective needs, proven and promptly reported.
We remind you that Virtus Bologna won the right to take the field on Friday 19th only on Tuesday 17th, beating Efes. And here the LBA recalls article 5.4: «Italian teams involved in official international competitions have the right to request the Championship to be brought forward or postponed with respect to the official Serie A calendar. In particular, it is possible to request the advance to Saturday for the match preceding the round of the international competition if this is scheduled for Tuesday, or the postponement to Monday on the day following the international meeting if this is scheduled for Friday”. And Virtus will play on Friday evening, as mentioned.
But not only that, we always read in article 5.4: «If the challenger is a team not involved in national or international competitions in the week preceding or following the request for advance or postponement respectively, it has the DUTY to accept the request, without prejudice to the availability of the playing facility». Reggiana does not participate in European cups and the match will be played at the Segafredo Arena in Bologna.
Therefore article 5.3 is also referred to: «With respect to the official calendar, no Championship advances can be made for a team that has previously played a match in an official international competition, when, between the start of this match and the start of the next Championship match or vice versa, there is no time period of at least 48 hours”.
In short, Virtus Bologna finds itself facing two crucial matches. The one with Baskonia, which would be worth access to the EuroLeague playoffs, which in case of victory would begin on April 23, Tuesday, in Madrid. And the one with Reggiana, with whom he has a less than happy record this season, and above all with the race for supremacy at the end of the regular season absolutely in question with Brescia and Milan.
The match could have been played on Sunday anyway, exactly 48 hours after the match against Vitoria, and another 48 hours from the eventual match against Real in the EuroLeague playoffs. But Virtus Bologna, as mentioned, is entitled to request the postponement to Monday in the event of a defeat, in order to have one more day of a delicate championship match, which from then on would be the total “focus” of the Juventus season.
Obviously, finding yourself on Thursday without a defined date for a match remains unusual. But it all depends on the nature of the play-in, precarious by definition.
2024-04-18 11:02:04
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