L’Acqua S.Bernardo Cantù makes its debut in front of the PalaDesio crowd on Monday, October 5, facing APU Udine in an early-season fixture scheduled for 20:00 local time (18:00 UTC). Following a solid campaign last year that yielded a comfortable survival in the league and a qualification for the Coppa Italia, head coach Vertemati returns firmly at the helm of the Friulian side, having opened the new season with a victory over Scafati.
Tactical Blueprint and Backcourt Leadership
Coach Vertemati has handed the tactical keys of the APU offense to playmaker Žan Šiško, an experienced guard. During Udine’s opening fixture in the Lega Basket Serie A (LBA), Šiško narrowly missed a double-double, finishing with nine points and nine assists. Šiško’s primary responsibility is orchestrating a backcourt featuring Denzel Valentine and Raequan Battle. Valentine arrived over the summer from Venezia to serve as the team’s star, while former Cremona guard Battle contributed 17 points in the opener, complementing Valentine’s team-high 18 points.
Frontcourt Balance and Defensive Intensity
To establish defensive balance in the starting lineup, Vertemati utilizes wing specialist Joseph Mobio alongside center Nick McGlynn. McGlynn brings prior Serie A experience from his stint with Sassari a year ago, opening his campaign with 14 points. That defensive focus helped Udine restrict Scafati to just 63 points in the opening week, earning the Friulians the distinction of the league’s best defense early in the season.
Bench Depth and Rotations
Udine’s second unit features Eimantas Bendzius, a summer signing who scored 15 points in his debut, alongside team captain and point guard Andrea Calzavara, who posted six points and five assists off the bench. Center Skylar Spencer anchors the interior for his second season in the black-and-white uniform. The rotation is further bolstered by two standout Italian guards from the previous Serie A2 campaign: Lorenzo Bucarelli, who played for Cantù from 2021 to 2024, and Matteo Cavallero, a product of the Urania Milano youth sector whose defensive capabilities fit directly into Vertemati’s scheme. Youngsters Alessandro Pavan and Mattia Grassi complete the visiting roster.
Broadcast and Coverage Details
Fans looking to follow the action away from the arena can tune into the live broadcast on the subscription-only streaming platform LBATV. Audio commentary is also available across the frequencies of Radio Cantù FM 89.600.
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