Game 4 the day after tomorrow, the possible Game 5 will be on Saturday at 9.15pm at PalaEstra to coincide with Emma Villas
The script seemed exactly the same: San Vincenzo who took the lead in the first half, on the wings of their “strikers”, Mens Sana who chased, or perhaps better to say plodded along, trying to stick to the game tooth and nail , this time not even managing to mend the score at the interval, which closed at -12.
In the second half, then, a reaction of pride, the “usual” dunk by Marrucci on the counterattack to excite the people of Mensan and then off to a point-to-point final. Yep, the ending. This time it was different and being the only thing that counts in the end, the mood of Paolo Betti’s group also changes a lot, who perhaps hoped to emulate the other two races of the series in every way.
This time, however, the episodes rewarded San Vincenzo who, for what he produced in the three matches, certainly deserved the victory. We are certain that at a certain point the ghosts appeared at the door of the packed PalaLauroGiovani, and showed themselves from Francesco Baroni’s bench, who however this time managed to push them back out of the door, blowing hard on Puccioni’s shot of desperation, which could have given another “Happy Ending” to the green and white fans. It didn’t happen that way.
Let’s start from the ending. Puccioni’s last shot, 217 thousandths of a second from the end on +2 for the home team. Not the shot that Betti and the Mens Sana fans would have dreamed of: Puccioni forced from three points. It is true that in the absence of Vittorio Tognazzi, usually designated to manage the last possession, it was necessary to find an alternative. It didn’t go well. Sin.
But beyond the last shot, which is certainly the one that remains in people’s eyes more than the others, what annoys the most is having once again played the first two quarters, conceding too much to San Vincenzo and finishing even 16 down. lengths.
The effort that goes into getting back into contact risks paying for it with little clarity at the end. An aspect on which coach Betti and his boys will have to work, in view of Game 4, which will again be played by the sea on Wednesday 1 May at 9.15pm.
Looking at the scoreboard of the Sienese, two things stand out above all: the eight minutes of Sabia, who instead in the first two matches had been used more and with excellent results, and the “only” six points scored by Tognazzi, who willy-nilly he is the main offensive terminal of the team. And if his offensive contribution is missing, it is difficult to go by the seasonal averages of points scored.
Credit goes to San Vincenzo’s defense, which speculates a lot on Marrucci, but first of all wants to take the ball and initiative out of Vittorio’s hands. A fairly predictable interpretation and one to which the green and whites will have to pay attention.
Finally a note on the environment. Spectacular. Thanks to the 300 Sienese, who traveled to San Vincenzo with buses or their own vehicles, but also to the home crowd which, according to Coach Baroni, had never been so numerous.
At times it was difficult to hear the referees’ whistle, and perhaps someone even hoped that the whistle had come on Puccioni’s last shot, where Bertini’s defense was at its limit… but probably not enough to merit a foul call against . It was a spectacle in the stands and who knows if Wednesday 1 May will be like this again.
Meanwhile, the green and white club has protected itself by bringing forward the possible match 5 to Saturday evening (4 May at 9.15 pm), which was initially scheduled for 5 May at 6 pm due to the coincidence with the second leg of the Italian Cup final. of Volleyball of A2 which will see Emma Villas involved.
