Serie A Gold: Fasano first Scudetto finalist, Brixen and Conversano in game 3 | Salvezza Pressano in the play-outs

Sidea Group Fasano is the first finalist for the Scudetto. The Friday of the semi-finals in Serie A Gold certifies the arrival of the reigning Italian champions at the final stage of the 2023/24 season: for the third consecutive season, eighth time from 2014 to today, Vito Fovio’s team will play the series final for the tricolor after eliminating Alperia Black Devils in two games. Whether it will be the Puglia derby or another South Tyrolean match, only game 3 of the other semi-final, the one between Brixen and Conversano, will be able to say. At home, in fact, Michael Niederwieser’s team prevailed with a final score of 34-27, rebalanced the balance of the matches and next May 26th (7pm) they will be able to play their chances of accessing the final again at home.

BRIXEN – CONVERSANO 34-27. High stakes and tense match. Brixen knows he has victory as the only way to get to game 3 and starts with his foot on the accelerator: 5-1 after just 7′, a partial closed by Azzolin’s goal on the counterattack. Conversano had to deal with a few too many errors during the construction phase and the Brissinian resourcefulness suffered. Francelli tries to shake him with the swivel to make it 8-5 in the 12th minute. The weight of Volarevic’s saves gradually increases on the balance of the match. Penetration by Stricker and 14-8 in the 24th minute. The match gets nervous: at the end of the first half, with Conversano ball in hand, a clash between Marrochi and the opposing defense is followed by a disqualification for the visiting centre-back. Once the interruption is over, Brixen is still playing the game. At the break the score was 17-12. In the second half Tarafino throws Di Giandomenico into the fray, deploys him with a more aggressive defense, and focuses on Degiorgio’s explosiveness. But in the 42nd minute, from nine meters, De Oliveira puts the ball in to make it 24-19. Brixen controls, thanks to a rubber band that fluctuates between four and five goals. Stricker penetrates to make it 31-26 in the 52nd minute. In fact, nothing will happen again. Of note is the red card for suspension given to Cañete at the end of the match. Bressanone wins 34-27. The balance says 1-1. Game 3 will be played on Saturday, at 7pm and again in Alto Adige.

FASANO – BLACK DEVILS 37-29. Sidea Group Fasano will be able to defend the Scudetto won last year in the final. The Apulians closed the series against Merano in 120 minutes and easily won game 2 in front of a friendly crowd. Final: 37-29, but even more telling is the 21-10 score the teams went into halftime. Without the injured Cuello, Fadanelli and Nuñez, as well as the coach Jürgen Prantner, the South Tyrolean team can do nothing on the blue and white pitch. The hosts, for their part, were concentrated, solid, led in terms of scoring by the usual Knezevic (9) and between the posts by an increasingly protagonist Leban. Game always in control for the Junior, leading 12-5 at 15′ and 30-20 after three quarters of play. For Sidea Group Fasano it is the third consecutive Scudetto final, the eighth from 2014 to today. Furthermore, Messina and his teammates will play with the advantage of the field factor in game 2 and possible game 3, strengthened by their lead in the standings at the end of the regular season.

The program of the Scudetto final series:

Wednesday 29 May (Race-1)
BrixenConversano – Sidea Group Fasano

Saturday 1st June (Race-2)
Sidea Group Fasano – BrixenConversano

Monday 3 June (Race-3)
Sidea Group Fasano – BrixenConversano

The Scudetto play-off scoreboard:

PLAY OUT. Pressano achieved salvation in Serie A Gold after the first play-out round. The Trentino team repeated the success of game 1 and at the Palavis they beat 28-26 (pt 13-14) a combative Trieste, improving compared to the dull performance of Chiarbola but still overcome by the desire of Branko Dumnic’s yellow and blacks to close the season. Tunisian evening with double figures from Hamouda (11) and Fraj (10).

Game 3, however, will be needed to resolve the issue linked to the comparison between Macagi Cingoli and Secchia Rubiera. After the Emilian victory in the first match, this evening (Thursday) the Marches won with a score of 30-24 (pt 12-8) at the Pala Quaresima. Double figures for Aaron Codina, author of 11 goals.

(photo: Riccardo Di Biase)