Umana Reyer Venice – La Molisana Magnolia U19 60-66
Enthusiastic Sabatelli coach: “We have given ourselves the opportunity to dream again and we want to do it to the end”
CAMPOBASSO – Three wins out of as many races, primacy in the ‘B’ pool, the iron grouping, and the possibility of a day of rest to release tension and project – entering by right among the top eight in Italy – on the quarter-finals scheduled for Friday evening (duo at 20.30) at PalaZauli in Battipaglia against one between Basket Roma (second in group C) and Brixia (third in poule D). With a unique character, not being disarmed after the equalizer immediately with a buzzer-beater from Carraro, La Molisana Magnolia Campobasso does not break down and, in the overtime, with the canisters of the Brindisi Amatori and Baldassarre (cold with the stopwatch stopped), as well as of the Slovenian Šrot and two masterpieces almost on the closing credits of Quiñonez (a slalom for applause and a triple that definitively closes the accounts) takes a pink reference that knows of a new chapter of history also of the territorial basketball movement: never a Molise team he had reached an absolute final in both genders, there was only a male ‘B’ final and then participations linked to representativeness, but above all no one had pushed himself to enter the top eight.
ALTERNE WAVES – The start is marked by breaks and counter-breaks with Del Bosco and Šrot who try to make the rossoblùs fly up to +7 (6-13). But Venice does not break down and thus returns the magnolias find themselves managing only one possession of advantage in the 10 ‘.
ESCAPE AND RETURN – The departure of the second period is fulminating. The rossoblùs fly back to +7 (13-20), but scores a 9-0 counterbreak that starts the game of leadership changes, but the South American triples of Quiñonez and Del Bosco make the bank up to 24 -29 of the long interval.
ABSOLUTE EQUILIBRIUM – Venezia manages to get back on 31 all, then goes on even on 39-37 in the third quarter, but neither of the two marginal formations manages to have the score in absolute parity at 30 ‘(42-42).
A THOUSAND EMOTIONS – Quiñonez tries to blow the bank at the start of the fourth period, because Šrot is also insightful and Del Bosco joins the two and immediately after Baldassarre for a +6 (47-53) that could slide the credits on the contention. This is not the case, however, because the ball starts to burn in the rossoblù hands even when the clock is stopped (Giorgia Amatori knows something about it) and in the third consecutive triple of despair the lagoon, with Carraro, put the buzzer-beater that is worth the overtime.
INSIDE THE ADDITIONAL – In the extra five minutes the rossoblùs manage to give life to another technical-tactical masterpiece. Baldassarre on free throws, Amateurs with a jumper of character and again Šrot and then Quiñonez with an eye-pleasing slalom and a perfect triple end up leaving no room for the Venetians forced to bring home a yellow report.
COACH’S WORD – At the end, Mimmo Sabatelli cannot hide his satisfaction: «Being among the top eight in Italy is a great satisfaction, the continuation of something incredible. We do everything to keep dreaming and get as far as possible. Now who we will see will touch tomorrow evening in the six hours ».
As for the buzzer-beater suffered at the end, the rossoblù coach remembers how «in this event our experience is relative. I don’t have to take the three-point shot straight away, but we were strong in playing five minutes of unique intensity and above all together without getting discouraged ».
“From me – close the Campobassano bus – I can only congratulate the whole group even those less used. They have all been commendable because these successes are a source of absolute pride for our club ».
AMONG THE NUMBERS – Results for the third day of group B: Umana Reyer Venezia-La Molisana Magnolia Campobasso 60-66 d1ts, Smit Roma Centro-Geas Sesto San Giovanni 27-68. Results for the second day of group B: Umana Reyer Venezia-Geas Sesto San Giovanni 52-57, La Molisana Magnolia Campobasso-Smit Roma Centro 72-40. Results for the first day of group B: Umana Reyer Venezia-Smit Roma Centro 80-45, La Molisana Magnolia Campobasso-Geas Sesto San Giovanni 64-60 The classification: La Molisana Magnolia Campobasso 6; Geas Sesto San Giovanni 4; Human Reyer Venice 2; Smit Rome Center 0.
TABLE
UMANA REYER VENICE – LA MOLISANA MAGNOLIA CAMPOBASSO 60-66 (after extra time) (13-15, 24-29; 42-42, 53-53)
VENICE: Bianchi 11 (2/10, 1/6), Carraro 24 (5/11, 4/7), Purina (0/5, 0/3), Rescifina 14 (5/12, 1/6), Zuccon 6 (3/6, 0/1); Sekulic (0/2), Toffolo 5 (1/4, 1/4), Carrer, Orvieto (0/1, 0/1). Ne: Siviero, Matteuci and Feltrin. Coach: Zimerle.
CAMPOBASSO: Trozzola 3 (1/3 of 3), Quiñonez 23 (5/17, 3/10), Amatori 2 (1/2, 0/1), Šrot 18 (6/10, 2/3), Del Bosco 12 (3/7, 2/7); Del Sole (0/3), Vitali, Baldassarre 8 (2/2). Ne: Pirillo, Moffa and Panichella. Coach: Sabatelli.
REFEREES: Melai (Pisa) and Licari (Trapani).
NOTE: injury at 39’44 “(sprained left ankle) for Toffolo (Venice), who has not returned. Free throws: Venice 7/15; Campobasso 8/15. Rebounds: Venezia 47 (Zuccon 15); Campobasso 50 (Šrot 15). Assist: Venezia 2 (Rescifina and Toffolo); Campobasso 8 (Amateur 3). Progressive score: 5-9 (5 ‘), 20-20 (15’), 34-33 (25 ‘), 47-49 (35’). Maximum advantage: Venezia 2 (42-40); Campobasso 7 (13-20).