Magnolia champion of Italy, Geas second with applause

THE COMMENT

After a crazy, exciting and intense match from the first to the last second, Magnolia Campobasso gives itself and all of Molise the third Italian title at youth level in women’s basketball, after that of this year’s Under 19s and that of the Under 17s last year.

The two clubs that at senior level this season have been an advert for Italian women’s basketball will face each other, with the three championship quarter-final matches (race1 finished after double overtime, race2 resolved by Kacerik’s incredible triple at the siren and race3 which sent the Molise team to the semi-final), giving in a certain sense continuity to the challenge between these two clubs, a challenge that promises to continue in the years to come both at senior and youth level.

And even in the Under 17 championship final, 40 minutes are not enough. In the further 5 of overtime Magnolia played with more personality and clarity in attack, despite Emma Giacchetti literally on her knees, heroic in leading her team to victory together with the other star of the event Marta Moscarella. On the other side, a huge Olivia Ostoni, infallible from the three-point range until overtime, was not enough for a Geas who only had to give in in the last seconds of extra time but deserved a standing ovation for the great tournament played.

The silver medal for the Milanese was bitter, also because Troncato’s team was ahead by 10 at the end of the first half with Moscarella having committed three fouls and inertia completely on his side. Then, during the long interval, coach Diotallevi must have groomed his girls properly, because in the third period a completely different Magnolia entered the field: feisty in defense, determined in attack and above all with double the intensity compared to the first twenty minutes. Result: comeback and overtaking in three minutes, before the “exhausting” point by point that takes the match to overtime.

Unfortunately in basketball only one team can win the match and never before would both teams have deserved the championship. A real commercial for women’s youth basketball, which is considered even less than men’s but can put on a show like any senior event. Making the most of youth basketball as a whole can only do the movement some good.

THE SCORESHEET (available only on Fip Stats): Geas Sesto San Giovanni 79 – 85 Magnolia Campobasso

TREZZI Francesca 6: Negative plus/minus (-14), good two-point percentage and good defense. Sufficient performance.

MINOR Julia 6: He had the task of limiting Moscarella. She only partially succeeded and especially in the first half, she fought well in rebounding.

BETTONI Rebecca 6: A shame about the 5 turnovers which “dirty” an overall good performance a bit.

VOLPATO Emma 7: She performed very well as “second fiddle” in the almost 40 minutes she was on the field. In the first half you gave your team a big hand in their attempt to gain an advantage.

OSTONI Olivia 9: His step-back three-pointer was deadly, worthy of Stephen Curry. 34 points with 8/16 from beyond the arc. It is not clear why he is not permanently in the first team in Serie A1 like his peers Giacchetti and, from next year, Moscarella.

DE LISE Serena 6: He gives quality minutes as a substitution for Minora. Even if he never shoots, he doesn’t demerit at all.

MAGNI Emilia 8: To find a class of 2009 with this personality we have to bother Isabel Hassan. She really plays a great match.

Scano, Ciaravolo, Scicolone, Marinone, Rovello: SV

GIACCHETTI Emma 9: The starting point guard of the national team could not fail to dominate these finals. Fresh from the monstrous performance in the semi-final, in which she came close to achieving a triple double, she plays another exemplary match, coming out at the end exhausted but happy for the championship. And tomorrow, she will be back on the pitch in the second leg semi-final of the Serie B concentration against Marghera.

PATRIARCH Melania 6.5: Excellent in defense, even if he didn’t attempt a shot, he deserves plenty of passing.

COST Letizia 7: The two free throws at the end of overtime practically gave the championship to Magnolia. It’s absolutely not easy at 17 to go to the line knowing you can be decisive for an Italian title.

MASCIA Paola 6.5: As long as he remains on the pitch he gives his team his usual great hand as the third option after the two stars Giacchetti and Moscarella; It’s a shame his premature exit due to fouls.

ODDIS Elena 6.5: 40 minutes on the pitch, he shows excellent things especially in defence, even if he commits some naivety.

MOSCARELLA Marta 9: To say that she was dominant throughout the tournament is an understatement: almost 30 points and 16 rebounds on average, 38+15 in the final, the triples that reopened the game at the beginning of the third quarter and we could continue, but we’ll stop here. Tomorrow she too will be back on the parquet in Marghera.

Felicita, Di Quinzio, Verlingieri, Del Colle, Santillo, Fatica: SV