The category Final Four for our Under 14 Golds ends with the title of Vice Regional Champions. In fact, in the two days of 11-12 May in Verbania, coach Corrado’s boys beat Gators Savigliano in the semi-final, dominating the regular season, and then bowed out to the highly favored College Borgomanero in the final. An important path for the orange team, who grew visibly during the season and were able to bring Chieri basketball to the silver medal for the highest regional category title for the first time.
Saturday’s semi-final saw the Leopardi pitted against the BC Gators from Savigliano, who arrived on the shores of Lake Maggiore without ever having lost a match in the season. The start is in favor of the green and whites who escape to a 9-0 lead by making good use of their greater physicality. However, it doesn’t take long for BEA to get back into the game, and with triples from Menegatti and Calò they first equalize and then overcome. The match becomes balanced, with the Chieri team trying to impose their own pace while the Gators are good at making the centimeters count on the two halves of the pitch. The first orange push comes in the second half, with Coltiletti and his teammates managing to run the court well and reaching the rim for +9. Chieri goes to half-time at 32-40.
Upon returning to the pitch, the physicality of the match increases, with the referee’s meter allowing for lots of contact from one side of the pitch to the other. Gators seem to be able to take advantage of this, with the Leopards’ percentages lowering both from long range and on approach. Savigliano takes advantage of it and in the middle of the third quarter manages to overtake (41-40), but here captain Fatai and his teammates show their character: Borz in penetration immediately signs the counter-overtaking, followed closely by Calò and Coltiletti for the 41-46 at the end third period. Montiglio is a factor in defense, dirtying all the white-green penetrations, Calò and Coltiletti again hit threes and BEA takes control of the match firmly. Gators try everything, but Chieri manages the comeback attempts well and deservedly gains access to the final.
The final, however, is something completely different from the start. Opposite the Leopards are College Borgomanero, which also arrived at the most important event of the year with an immaculate record and an opponent already met on several occasions by the orange team during the year. If the matches of the past months had been hard-fought and balanced battles, this time the script is different. BEA pays the price of the emotion, she immediately appears tense and nervous and struggles to put her basketball on the field. College, on the other hand, has a completely different attitude, runs, defends strongly and immediately makes a basket from outside, forcing the Leopards to chase from the ball. Calò tries to shake things up with a couple of triples, but the evening doesn’t seem right. Borgomanero goes into the long break at +15, Chieri tries to come back strong from the locker room but any attempt at a comeback is promptly repelled by the blue and whites who are rampant in the last ten with BEA who perhaps has the demerit of raising the white flag too early.
However, nothing takes away from the splendid journey made by these boys, who graduate as regional vice-champions in the top category championship after a splendid ride. For the first time, BEA brings Chieri basketball to the silver medal in a championship of this level.
“It was a weekend of incredible intensity, which made us experience a whirlwind of emotions – comments coach Francesco Corrado – After a semi-final played at an excellent level, we are still disappointed by a final not played to the best of our ability against a top-level opponent who undoubtedly deserved the title. However, this must not erase the great journey these guys have made. For this reason, a huge thank you goes to the staff, to the club, to the parents who have never let us lack their support and, above all, to this fantastic group of kids who never gave up during the year, deserving these Final Four and the possibility of playing a regional final which will remain a great growth experience”.
The match scores:
Semifinal
ASD BC Gators – BEA Chieri SSDRL 53-61
Partials: 18-19, 32-40, 41-46.
Savigliano: Abello (Cap.) 18, Magliano, Grezda 14, Panero, Birolo, Ferrero 2, Givo 2, Fresia 2, Mellano 2, Biga, Sordella 13.
All. Racca, Ass. Toselli
BEA Chieri: Fatai (Cap.), Borz 14, Mouaddine 4, Di Giorgio, Cristiano, De Mita, Menegatti 7, Montiglio 1, Calo’ 19, Dalmasso, Coltiletti 16 Dimonte. All.: Corrado, Ass. Pirocca.
The final
BEA Chieri – College Basketball 48-85
Partials: 12-19, 27-42, 38-63.
BEA Chieri: Fatai (Cap.) 3, Borz 14, Mouaddine 4, Di Giorgio, Cristiano 5, De mita, Menegatti, Montiglio 4, Bassi 1, Calo’ 11, Coltiletti 6, Rasconi. All. Corrado, Ass. Pirocca.
Borgomanero: Bini (Cap.) 4, Okadoh 32, Ariano 12, Mariannini 2, Pisoni 4, Bertone 4, Taglione D. 7, Avanzo 2, Ferrario 2, Spanò 6, El Tini 2, Taglione V. 7. All. Vigliaturo , Ass. Santagostino.
LEOPARDS PRIDE!
