LA MOLISANA MAGNOLIA CAMPOBASSO 70
ALLIANZ GEAS SESTO SAN GIOVANNI 76
(after two extra periods)
(13-15, 36-30; 45-46, 61-61; 68-68)
CAMPOBASSO: Trimboli 11 (0/3, 3/7), Morrison 5 (0/1, 1/2), Mištinová 10 (2/5, 2/8), Dedic 9 (2/10, 0/5), Kunaiyi 8 (4/6); Narviciute, Quiñonez 21 (5/9, 1/3), Kacerik 6 (2/2 from 3), Giacchetti (0/1 from 3). Ne: Del Sole, Vitali and Trozzola. All.: Sabatelli.
SESTO SAN GIOVANNI: Conti G. 2 (1/1, 0/5), Panzera 2 (1/2, 0/3), Gwathmey 14 (5/7, 1/1), Trucco 3 (0/1, 1/2) , Moore 18 (6/6); Wadoux 5 (1/4, 1/3), Dotto C. 24 (4/8, 4/6), Begic 8 (4/6, 0/1), Tava. Ne: Arturi. All.: Zanotti.
REFEREES: Salustri (Rome), Attard (Florence) and Ferretti (Teramo).
NOTE: exits for five fouls, in Sesto San Giovanni, at 43’45” (63-65) Gwathmey and at 44’25” (68-68) Begic. Free throws: Campobasso 17/20; Sesto San Giovanni 11/19. Rebounds: Campobasso 34 (Dedic 9); Sixth St. John 39 (Moore 10). Assist: Campobasso 14 (Trimboli and Morrison 3); Sesto San Giovanni 21 (Trick 5). Score progression: 2-9 (5′), 20-22 (15′), 42-32 (25′), 53-48 (35′). Maximum advantage: Campobasso 10 (45-35); Sesto San Giovanni 9 (0-9).
The playoff journey for La Molisana Magnolia Campobasso starts with a defeat. At the Arena the rossoblù had to give in after two extra times to a Sesto San Giovanni team who managed to come out with a smile after fifty minutes of authentic emotions, perfect confirmation of a particularly balanced quarter capable of keeping the fans literally glued to their seats both clubs for further (or further) episodes of the series.
IN CHASE The start of the Magnolias is diesel with the guests going 0-6. Coach Sabatelli, after three minutes without baskets, asks his players for a reaction, but finds himself forced to call a time-out at 0-9. Quiñonez scores the first point for the steelflowers from the free throw line. The 50% on free throws still keeps the Campobasso fans away with the Arena crowd starting to raise their decibels supported by Quiñonez’s basket. Dedic from the line brings the rossoblù back to minus five. Then Morrison sends the Molise fans into ecstasy with a triple, but the Geassine regain two full possessions of the lead (9-15), but the Molise manage to get back to within two with which the quarter ends (13-15).
CHANGE OF COURSE The guests fly to +8 at the start of the second quarter. Kunaiyi makes himself heard, then Kacerik with a triple brings the Magnolias back to just one possession (18-21). Dedic scores, then Mištinová with a triple scores the first lead of the evening (and at the same time the overtaking) for the rossoblù. Quiñonez goes on the run for +3 (25-22). Mištinová extends the lead again, then Trimboli scores from the three-point range for 30-25. Quiñonez increases the margin with a triple, then Mištinová with a buzzer-beater closes the period with two full possessions of the lead (36-30) for the steelflowers .
HIGH AND LOW With initiatives on one front and the other neutralized by the defense, Kunaiyi’s baskets gave the Magnolias a double-digit lead (42-32), which Kacerik retained. Sesto San Giovanni reacts and with a partial of 11-0 takes the lead again with a buzzer-beater this time from Trucco (45-46).
TOTAL TENSION Four points in succession from Quiñonez turn the contest on its head again. Dedic scores +5 (51-46) to free throws. With the clock stopped, Quiñonez widens the margin (53-46). Sesto San Giovanni gets closer, but Trimboli scores from the three-point range. The guests now respond blow for blow and get closer to within one at 56-55. Trimboli scores again for 59-55. Sesto San Giovanni halves the gap, but Morrison scores the +4 from the line (61-57). Sesto San Giovanni impacts again and the 61 all is the prologue to overtime.
A QUESTION OF DETAILS Sesto San Giovanni scores the first basket of the extra period, but Kunaiyi makes an impact. We continue in the name of absolute balance with a score that, at the end of the first overtime, sees the two teams still tied. In the second overtime it is Sesto San Giovanni who scores the first basket again, Trimboli impacts from the free throw line. Six points in succession from the Lombard team push the guests away at +6 (70-76) with which the Geassine team concludes the match.
THE COACH’S THOUGHT In the press room, in the post-match conference, the Magnolias coach Mimmo Sabatelli does not hide his disappointment, both his own and that of the entire rossoblù entourage.
«It’s a shame to give in like this – he argues – because even tonight we faded twice with the ball in our hands. It happened both at the end of regular time when we could have brought home the victory and at the end of the first extra half when we had the opportunity to end it there.”
«They are both situations that are the result of our relative experience compared, instead, to their greater knowledge of similar situations. Furthermore, Dotto had an incredible evening with absolute percentages and even lucky baskets, but the result of believing in it to the end”, she adds.
«What regrets me most – Sabatelli comments – is not having paid attention in some phases of the match to certain defensive details, which we had prepared differently, consequently obtaining points on time. We are a young team, which has created a great championship. In the playoffs, however, everything is reset and the details are decisive. The parquet gave the best response to our opponents, but we are ready to give them our lives, even if it will be very difficult.”
SUNDAY ON THE FIELD Down 1-0 in the series, on Sunday the Magnolias will be in Lombardy in Sesto San Giovanni as guests of the Rossoneri quintet with only one result ahead of them: that of the squad’s scoresheet to take the series to the eventual decisive game three on Sunday 1st May at Arena with tap-off at 8pm. Otherwise, the rossoblù’s championship journey would end on the last Sunday of April
