Ioannis Kastritis Prepares Varese for Scafati Trip Without Injured Stars
Openjobmetis Varese travels to face the Longobardi Group at PalaMangano on Sunday, October 4, at 17:00 local time (15:00 UTC) without key guards Amedeo Della Valle and William McDowell-White. Head coach Ioannis Kastritis confirmed the squad’s depleted roster configuration ahead of the opening away fixture, which marks the start of a demanding seven-game stretch over twenty-three days across both domestic play and the Basketball Champions League.
Roster Shortages and Recovery Timelines for Della Valle
Varese will enter the PalaMangano hardwood missing two of its primary backcourt leaders due to ongoing injury concerns.
Kastritis provided a measured update regarding the guard’s potential return pathway. Our goal is to evaluate Amedeo’s situation day by day,
Kastritis said in remarks detailed by VareseNews. I won’t rush into what will happen in five or six days, but being optimistic, he is working very well in this period. He feels better and we believe that by the end of next week, upon our return from Spain, he will improve further.
The club intends to reassess his readiness immediately following the continental trip, with only a single training session scheduled before a subsequent league match against Trieste.
Tactical Adjustments and Youth Integration in the Backcourt
With McDowell-White and Della Valle remaining in Varese rather than boarding the team transport for the five-day road swing, the coaching staff must rely on alternative playmaking options alongside Nico Mannion’s supporting cast. Kastritis noted that youth or veteran status holds no weight in his selection criteria for the upcoming rotation. I don’t say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ by default for anyone,
Kastritis stated. For our club and for me, there are no young or experienced players; whoever is there, works, and demonstrates on the field that they can do their duty, plays.
Kastritis emphasized that the team focused heavily on offensive chemistry and defensive rebounding improvements following an opening-round defeat to Virtus Bologna. The Bologna match left the squad frustrated by the final margin, though Virtus subsequently demonstrated strong form in EuroLeague competition against Milan and Olympiacos.
A Five-Day Travel Itinerary Across Italy and Spain
The fixture against Scafati initiates a grueling logistical block that will keep the Biancorossi away from home for nearly a week. The traveling party departed for Campania ahead of Sunday’s 17:00 tip-off, officiated by the referee trio of Baldini, Bongiorni, and Capotorto, with live streaming available via LBA TV. Following the domestic encounter, the team will remain in southern Italy before transferring to Naples on Monday, October 5, to catch a flight to Alicante, Spain. From there, Varese will head to Murcia for a Basketball Champions League group stage fixture scheduled for Wednesday, October 7.
Kastritis acknowledged the unusual travel demands during a professional career cycle but framed the heavy schedule as a positive step for the organization. Last year we complained about not playing twice a week and not being in Europe,
Kastritis observed. Now we are there, we have the opportunity to travel, stay together, compete more often and improve. This is the life of high-level professionals.
Scouting the Longobardi Scafati Opposition
Piero Bucchi’s Scafati squad presents a distinct perimeter challenge for Varese’s adjusted defensive scheme. According to La Prealpina, Scafati enters the contest likely missing frontcourt presence Okaro Johnson due to injury, but the hosts will rely heavily on home-court intensity at PalaMangano.
Kastritis stressed that Varese’s primary focus remains internal rather than reactive to opponent personnel. For Scafati, we will focus first of all on ourselves,
the coach noted. Right now we have to make sure we play our game both in attack and in defense the way we want. We must not just ‘try’, we must make sure we impose our style of play on both sides of the court.
