Grit, heart, compactness, balance. Many adjectives could be used for the Ancient Walls but they can be summed up in one word: final! Aurelio Scebba’s boys beat Pescara in game 3 of the playoff semi-final to gain access to the A2 series and reach the final. The home factor was therefore respected for Giorgini who, after winning game 1 in Catania and losing the second in Pescara on penalties, only had one result to be able to move forward. The victory, deserved and convincing, arrived in front of the friendly public who spared no energy to support the boys, concentrated and united from the first to the last second of a hard-fought match well played by both teams. Now in the final Giorgini Ottica will have to face the “old acquaintance” Salerno, a team already challenged in the same group and victorious in the semi-final against Villa York at the end of two very balanced matches.
THE MATCH. First lunge and first goal for the Muri, Riolo takes care of it. Russo scores the equalizer but Muscuso’s left-footed shot immediately warms up for the new lead. Cunko and Forzase both score with the extra man. Again you beat and counter with the equalizer from Pescara, but Reina squares it with justice. In the final Russo directly from a penalty closes the first set at 4-4. The second, which will be the decisive one for the final result, sees Muri start well with the usual bomb from Riolo. Giorgini trying to make the first real move to the race. Forzase with the extra man scores the 6-4 and Muscuso, directly from a penalty earned in the center by Lanto, tries to make the Muri escape at +3. De Vincentis mends the score but again a penalty earned by Lanto allows Trimarchi to coolly score the temporary 8-5. In the third, Micheletti opens the ball, the tension is increasingly palpable in the pool. Vittoria finished well on a couple of occasions and the Giorgini defense worked in the decisive moments. Trimarchi served by Vittoria pots in but again the -2 Pescara goal keeps Abruzzo’s hopes alive. It’s not over because Foti scores the 10-7 on a confusing counterattack. In the fourth and final set, the Scebba boys, with a great spirit of sacrifice and collaboration, managed to keep the visiting offensives at bay. Micheletti tries to drag him down to the last minute, but with just over 3 minutes left, who could it be other than captain Muscuso to put in the ball to make it 11-8 which gives the much desired final to the Muri Antichi.
THE INTERVIEWS. “The team deserved to qualify for the final – admits the president Luigi Spinnicchia – having won two games in control at home and drawn in Pescara, the logic of the series therefore says that Muri Antichi deserved access. We were very keen to go to the final to honor the championship that has seen us excel for some time. In these matches with such high stakes, at certain moments the technical and tactical aspects take their toll and it is the heart that makes the difference as demonstrated today. When we play as a team we show that we are at another level. We will go to play this beautiful final against a very strong team like Salerno but now we can no longer hide, there is only one objective.”
“Matches like today’s – declares mister Aurelio Scebba – these were games full of emotions and tensions, the boys were fantastic at knowing how to manage them. We wanted the final at all costs, it was our goal and we achieved it. Now we’ll take a day to celebrate because it was a great achievement, then we’ll think about Salerno where the objective will be to do even better. The boys were united and ready to suffer, when you interpret matches like this it’s a pleasure to see them play.”
GIORGINI OPTICS ANTIQUE WALLS – PESCARA N. AND PN. 11-8
GIORGINI OPTICS ANCIENT WALLS: Nicolosi, Marano, Trimarchi 2, Foti 1, Riolo 2, Lanto, Forzese 2, Reina 1, Cassone, Belfiore, Muscuso 3, Basile, Vittoria, Emmi. All. Scebba.
PESCARA N. AND PN.: Prosperi, De Vincentis 1, Fredducci 1, De Luca, Cunko 1, Castagna D:, Giordano 1, Russo 2, Micheletti 2, Bartocci, Cerasoli, D’Incecco, Brandoni. All. Malara.
Referees: Rotondano and Guarracino.
Note. Partials: 4-4, 4-1, 2-2, 1-1.
Davide Caltabiano
Giorgini Ottica Muri Antichi Catania Press Office
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