Seventh championship on the board for Apuania Carrara Table Tennis, who after the 4-0 of the first leg won, at the Avenza di Carrara sports hall, 3-0 also in the return match of the championship final against Top Spin Messina, the match was refereed by Alessandra Faina (Rome) and Stefano Palagi (Viareggio).
In the first singles they faced each other Tomislav Pucar (Apuania Carrara) e Matteo Mutti (Top Spin Messina), the Carrara standard bearer, after an initial balance (3 – 3), accelerated (9-3), winning the first set. In the second set Matteo Mutti (Top Spin Messina) put the situation back on level terms from 5-7 to 7-7, then Tomislav Pucar took the lead again and prevailed at 10-8. The third half was the prerogative of the home favourite, who jumped from 5-5 to 9-5, closing on the second match point. One nil for Apuania Carrara
Following, Mihai Bobocica (Apuania Carrara) faced Antonino Amato (Top Spin Messina), the Carrarese standard bearer got off to a great start in the first set and quickly moved up to 10-5 and took the first set at the third opportunity. In the second set Bobocica rose from 5-4 to 9-4 and had no problems closing the second set in his favour. When the game resumed, Antonino Amato countered the Italian champion well Mihai Bobocica and in the final he canceled four match points (8-10, 10-11 and 11-12) giving in only in the fifth (12-13). Two nil for Apuania Carrara.
In the third singles Andrej Gacina (Apuania Carrara) faced the young Tommaso Giovannetti (Top Spin Messina), the Apuan standard bearer started strong (9-4) and secured the first set. In the second there was a battle and Gacina at 10-9 wasted the first chance, Tommaso Giovannetti emulated him at 11-10 and at 12-11 he completed the job. In the third set Andrej Gacina started well (4-1), was caught (7-7) and set the final break. In the fourth set, the visiting athlete put everything back in balance, keeping his head ahead from 5-4 onwards. Andrej Gacina, however, imposed his pace on the “beautiful” player, progressing to 10-4, and at the second match point he brought the championship to Apuania Carrara of president Guglielmo Bellotti.
The awards ceremony and the presentation of the cup, amidst the applause of the supporters, were carried out by the Deputy Vice President of the Italian Table Tennis Federation, Mr. Carlo Borella.
«This seventh championship – explains technician Claudio Volpi – it is as important as the first, there is no substantial difference between one and the others, every year we start from scratch and require sweat, effort, commitment and dedication. These two final matches that we played with Messina, who proved to be an excellent team and to whom I congratulate, had a round result, which is not a reflection of the real value of the two teams, as the two matches of the regular season, which ended in a draw. We enjoy this scudetto, together with Italian Cup and Super Cup, and we will celebrate in society with all those who contributed to the final result. I have always said that not only the players are important and decisive, but also the coaches, managers and collaborators who gravitate around us. In these finals all the athletes scored points, therefore thanks to Mihai Bobocica (2 points), Andrej Gacina (2 points) and Tomislav Pucar (3 points), a big thanks also to Andrea Puppo and Lubomir Pistej, who during the season have made their decisive contribution.”
“I’m really happy for this seventh championship, we had won a good match two days earlier in Messina playing really well; However, I was dreading the return match because anything can happen in sport – explains president Guglielmo Bellotti – to quote a famous proverb – don’t say cat until you have it in the bag -. The progress of the meeting then gradually reassured me about the final outcome, I take this opportunity to thank all those who are close to us and have complimented us, a particular thank you to all those who, with work of the past, have allowed us to reach today. From next week we will start planning the future, now we can enjoy the victory.”
“ this year too, like last year, we succeeded in the sporting feat of winning Super Cup, Cup Italy and Scudetto– an excited person tells us Carlo Marchi (one of the founding members)– It seems like a dream to me but on the pitch we managed to prevail. I don’t forget the oratory where we started back in 1968, the sporting and moral values in which we were educated and which we still carry forward with pride and of which we are proud, today as then we are a group of friends who have realized a dream that we had as kids, become Italian Championsour compactness and cohesion allows us to continue and look forward, to put it briefly, we are what many call the “Apuania Family”.
“I’m happy with how I played in the semi-final and the two final matches – says Mihai Bobocica – now I will try to compete as best I can in the international tournaments that still offer places for the Olympic qualification in Paris, at the moment I am not yet qualified while my two teammates Pucar and Gacina are, I hope to succeed in this undertaking which for me would represent the third Olympics”
“I would like to draw attention to the concept of organization – comments Vice President Marco Lavaggi – I believe that every success is always the result of a good and well-coordinated organization that can allow the athletes to express themselves at their best and in the best possible conditions, in this regard I remind all the designated bodies that we were established in 1968, and our society doesn’t have one yet dedicated structure which, as indicated above, would allow it to be able to organize itself even better considering that the knowledge and skills needed to develop functional/operational dynamics are not lacking, as demonstrated by the many federal positions of our managers and the incredible 19 Stars of Merit Coni achieved, finally I believe that the assignment of a dedicated space would also allow it to be a moral prerogative of the pact between generations”
Scoreboard of the Apuania Carrara Table Tennis match – Top Spin Messina 3 to 0
Tomislav Pucar – Matteo Mutti 3-0 (11-4, 11-8, 11-7)
Mihai Bobocica – Antonino Amato 3-0 (11-7, 11-5, 14-12)
Andrej Gacina – Tommaso Giovannetti 3-2 (11-7, 11-13, 11-7, 8-11, 11-5)
