Suffering, complicated, fought but still deserved. Power Basket Salerno takes home the victory in the first playoff match against a never-tame Viola Reggio Calabria and capable, for long stretches, of playing point-to-point with the home team.
In an IT SVIL Arena at the Pala Silvestri that is overflowing with enthusiasm, animated by local fans, but also by those from the Reggio Calabria faith, the start is characterized by unexceptional rhythms and palpable tension on both sides. Power closes at 18-14 but is unable to immediately establish its rhythm. The leitmotif does not change in the second quarter, but the Salerno players have the merit of finding an important break that allows them to go to the long break at 42-35.
Upon returning to the parquet, Viola continues to find important energy to break the Power rhythm, forcing Power to commit several fouls on approaching players, which turn into winning free throws as a result of which Viola first nibbles away on points and then even finds the advantage . The last quarter lives on the parity of the first minutes. Power, however, as in the second quarter, found the strength to turn on at the right time with two triples from Duranti that created a small break, promptly sewn up by Viola. We need the best Misolic who, both in attack and defense, manages to tame the physicality of the guests and capitalizes on all the opportunities served to him in post-ups. The rest was done by a foul and basket by Ani, the triple and free throws by Mei and the exploits of captain Chaves. 85-74.
1-0, now head to Reggio Calabria to try to close the series already on Sunday evening in a Pala Pentimele which promises to be incandescent. “Not our best match – coach Farabello commented at the end of the match – we made a few too many mistakes but we were able to find the right plays in critical moments. In this victory the field factor played a lot, which we earned in the Play-Ins Gold. Now game 2 awaits us in an equally hot field and we will be ready.”
“Tough match from the start, very foul but it was the details that made the difference in our favor – these are the words of Uchenna Ani – important victory, now focus on the match in Reggio Calabria to get through to the next round”.
Scoreboards: Power – Chaves 18, Mei 17, Misolic 15, Ani 14, Duranti 8, Basile 6, Manisi 5, Zanini 2, Favaretto, Zampa, Gorga ne, Martorello ne
Viola – Aguzzoli 21, Tyrtyshnyk 17, Mavric 10, Maksimovic 9, Simonetti 9, Seck 8, Cessel, Konteh, Bonelli ne, Russo ne
