Once the quarter-final phase has passed, we get to the heart of things with the last eight remaining teams – four per draw – ready to go all out to get to the final which will give away a place in the top flight. ‘Board 2’ will be the first to hit the parquet with two matches scheduled for Saturday at 8.30pm, while ‘Board 1’ will complete the work with the two matches on Sunday at 6pm.
BOARD 1
The first semi-final will be the one between Autosped BCC Derthona and Martina Treviso (Sunday, 6pm, live LBF TV), an unprecedented event as the two teams played the junior series in different groups. The Piedmontese team got the better of Alperia Basket Club Bolzano in two games closed with a minimum difference (49-47 in Castelnuovo Scrivia and 72-74 in Bolzano) demonstrating how the play-offs can reserve surprises and also create tension to an absolute favourite. The trio made up of Attura, Melchiori and Premasunac was the driving force behind coach Cutugno’s group, without forgetting Cerino’s performances which significantly contributed to the passage to the next round. The Venetians survived the verve of San Giorgio MantovAgricoltura by regulating the series with two almost photocopy victories (54-59 in Mantua and 59-55 in Treviso), thus gaining a pass to the semi-final where they will have to give heart and soul to knock out the opponents. The main protagonist of the quarter-finals was D’angelo with two notable performances, however the solidity under the boards of Egwoh and the Vespignani-Da Pozzo tandem highlighted the talent of the team coached by coach Matassini. The match officials will be Francesco Belisario Di Luzio [Primo Arbitro] and Nicola Alessi [Secondo Arbitro].
At the same time, CLV-Limonta Costa Masnaga and Polisportiva A. Galli San Giovanni Valdarno will also face each other (Sunday, 6pm, live LBF TV), two rivals who fought for the second and third step of the podium in the Group until the last day A, today they will be able to settle accounts with at least two other challenges. The Lombards had to suffer to get through to the round, because Futurosa iVision Trieste took them to Game 3, however the home court factor was clearly decisive in the total calculation of the series (home victories for Costa Masnaga by 85-68 and 84- 52, home victory for Trieste 74-69). The depth of the roster in coach Andreoli’s hands contributed to getting through the quarter-finals; the great collective work and the authoritative performance of Allievi in the “bella” launched Costa Masnaga towards the finish line. The Tuscans still have in mind the difference in goals that forced them to finish below their rivals during the regular season, but their start in the play-offs was convincing and this allowed them to break the resistance of Posaclima Ponzano (85-73 at home and 68-69 away), qualifying for the semi-finals. Taking the team coached by coach Garcia Fernandez on their shoulders were mainly Nasraoui and Rossini, who showed all their skills on both sides of the pitch with absolutely dominating performances. The match officials will be Marco Guarino [Primo Arbitro] and Alfonso Procida [Secondo Arbitro].
BOARD 2
Opening the curtain will be WomenAPU Delser Crich Udine and Logiman Broni (Saturday, 8.30pm, live LBF TV), two teams who will battle for the first time in the season, as they too participated in the cadet series in different groups. The Friulians continued their unstoppable march by getting rid of Cestistica Spezzina (78-66 in Udine and 67-82 in La Spezia), thus maintaining their unbeaten record into the new year and aiming with ever greater determination for promotion to the top flight. As in the regular season, the dominance of the roster coached by coach Riga was also felt in the play-offs, who became – if possible – more equipped and talented with the arrival of Milani, the authentic protagonist in the quarter-finals. The team from Pavia experienced a real battle in three games against Halley Thunder Matelica from which they managed to emerge victorious by the skin of their teeth (76-62 for the Marches in Game 1, then two successes in a row for Broni with scores of 67-57 and 65-66); in the semi-final we will go with helmet and armor to try to undermine the resistance of the Udine team, but such an important stake at stake could reverse the roles. Moroni was mainly responsible for driving coach Magagnoli’s team with two solid performances in the winning races, but Marciniak and Bonvecchio also played an important role throughout the series. The match officials will be Elia Scaramellini [Primo Arbitro] and Davide Valletta [Secondo Arbitro].
The program will close with the duel between Ecodem Alpo and ARAN Cucine Panthers Roseto (Saturday, 8.30 pm, live LBF TV), already protagonists in Group B of a tight fight to conquer second place in the standings, they will find themselves in the semi-final to eliminate their rival from racing to the top series. Coach Soave’s girls got the better of USE Rosa Scotti Empoli without too many worries (89-76 in Villafranca di Verona and 53-65 in Empoli), once again showing the strength and integrity of a group with important ambitions ready to give the best to write a slice of history. The entire roster also proved to be up to par in the post-season, almost entirely on the scoresheet in both matches, however it was Turel and Frustaci who dragged Alpo towards the end of the series. The Abruzzo team will not have the home court advantage due to the difference in goals in the direct matches in the regular season with the Venetian team, but this was not a problem in the play-offs given the clear victories against Techfind San Salvatore Selargius (79-65 Roseto and 62-75 to Selargius), a clear and clear message to any opponent who competes against them. Coach Buzzanca opted for short rotations which proved effective with the starting five on the parquet for over half an hour; nevertheless, the excellent performances of Obouh Fegue and Cecili in the two races played must be rewarded. The match officials will be Giuseppe Vastarella [Primo Arbitro] and Marco Schiano from Zenise [Secondo Arbitro].
(Photo Luca De Cani)
