La Via Lattea Messina heads to the PalaMiwa on Saturday, 17 to face Benevento in an early tip-off for the fourth round of the Serie B interregionale, looking to extend a two-game winning streak. Officials Luca Mogavero of Bellizzi and Simone Argenio of Mercogliano will manage the 18:00 fixture, which tests the Sicilian side away from home following consecutive victories over Rende and Marigliano.
Trip to PalaMiwa Tests Giallorossi Momentum
The upcoming fixture arrives at a constructive juncture for the Giallorossi, though Pippo Sidoti acknowledges the severe challenge posed by their hosts. Benevento enters the match having dropped two games by a single point apiece against the current frontrunners in the league standings. Sidoti notes that while winning fosters confidence and smoother weekly training schedules, the realities of the division dictate that sustained victories are difficult to secure.
“Winning feels good, especially for a young squad, because success builds confidence and allows us to work better during the week,” Sidoti said. “In this championship, however, you cannot win all the time. We face a proper team, well-coached, that lost two matches by a single point against the two formations currently ahead of us in the classification. It will certainly be a tough and difficult game, but we go there with the tranquility of youth, trying to put them in difficulty.”
Youthful Vigor and Tactical Objectives
With an average age leaning young, La Via Lattea Messina—competing under the Basket School banner—focuses on accumulating experience away from the PalaTracuzzi. Vuk Gojkovic and the roster understand that hostile environments require composure and aggressive adaptation. The squad aims to measure its growth against a motivated opponent intent on capitalizing on home-court advantage at the PalaMiwa.
“We will play on a warm court,” Sidoti observed regarding the atmospheric challenges of the venue. “We have won two consecutive games and we are in a positive moment, but we face a strong team that will want to win. We must do everything to put them in difficulty.”
Growth Targets and Season Standings
Accumulating maturity remains the primary objective for a roster navigating the competitive landscape of Serie B interregionale. Sidoti stresses that the squad’s youth does not constitute an insurmountable barrier, provided the players embrace continuous competition and learn from both positive outcomes and setbacks.
“It is normal that experience is acquired by playing, confronting opponents, and learning even from victories,” Sidoti said. “These guys certainly do not lack courage. Two successes in three matches are not a small thing, and we are on the right path. Our goal is to enter the top eight or secure a quiet salvation. We know we have a young team, with all the limits that such a formation can entail. We try to improve week after week, match after match, to reach a standard of play that allows us to be competitive with everyone.”
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