Sirio Salerno ’92 wins the first leg final of the national women’s B playoffs and prepares for the return home of the Basketball Sisters Modena on Sunday. The 83-66 does not allow Somma’s team to relax, if anything to have further confirmation of their means, after eliminating Perugia in the semi-final. Still 40 minutes to play: we will start from +17 for the bells (difference in baskets in case of equal victories), whoever manages to close the series in their favor will be promoted to A2.
The match. PalaSilvestri blazing hot with 500 present and very hot in the match brought forward by an hour, at 6.30pm, compared to the usual home match time. Oliveira unlocks, Melloni equalizes and Modena goes ahead by 4. Salerno reacts but the basket spits out various solutions. In defensive rebounds the hosts dictate the law, but Palmieri is a thorn in their side and puts the Sisters back ahead: 9-13 with 3′ left in the period with the signature of Zarfaoui. Great character from the guests at the start. The contribution from the bench gives coach Visnjic a hand right from the start: Takrou, Scala and Scollini fight and keep their opponents away from the basket. Silatsa equalizes, then Oliveira and De Mitri start their engines until the first interval is 19-13. At the restart, Modena narrows the gap (19-17). Salerno was a little unlucky on the counterattacks, improving with Orchi and his 22-17, illuminated by De Mitri’s through ball. Accelerated to 30-17 in the middle of the period, then Koral breaks his fast. Sirio roars in the painting with Silatsa, also guided by Valerio’s experience. Only the triple is missing: the iron says no for 17′, then unlocks the Bolzanina. Zarfaoui copy-paste the reversal. The attack on the basket after Orchi’s shot is a cold beer in mid-August: Salerno at +15 but the Sisters nibble away for a 39-28 lead at the long interval.
Cattabiani was present at the start of the third quarter, Palmieri made two out of three from the line and brought the Emilians to -7. Salerno is toned but the aim doesn’t pay off until Valerio’s triple for 44-36 7′ before the half hour. Silatsa’s +10 in a one-on-one against Melloni is textbook, as is De Mitri’s underleg for Oliveira (49-36). Salerno is fun and entertaining. De Mitri’s three is not a tongue twister but it is worth 52-37. Dragged by a large audience, the breathtaking collective takes the stage for a profitable and beautiful choral game to behold. Valerio closes his left eye, aims with his right and shoots the triple to make it 60-42 less than 2′ from the end of the third quarter, then Palmieri penetrates alone and scores -16. Oliveira also breaks free from distance, complete with a liberating scream. The +19 of the last break (65-46) allows you to think but not to rush; Koral’s triple is the warning, Tartarini imitates it. In the middle, Orchi’s basket. Modena timeout 5′ from the siren at 76-57. Salerno doesn’t lower the pace despite the tiredness, it reaches +20 but the guests hold on. Melloni and Cattabiani reduce the deficit by a pinch. It ends 83-66. The return leg will take place on Sunday 16 June at 6.30pm at the PalaFerraris in Modena.
“A first part of the work is done. I’m very satisfied because it was so hot and it wasn’t easy. We joined forces and got a +17 but based on what we showed we have what it takes to win away too. We saw union, cohesion but also a lot of haste. There are still things to improve but there is a week left to put them right and prepare to go to Modena at our best and play our last match. This group deserves to end with a victory, we will do everything.” the words of coach Visnjic.
SCORESHEET – SIRIO SALERNO ’92-BASKETBALL SISTERS MODENA 83-66 (19-13; 39-28; 65-46)
SALERNO: Oliveira 24, Valerio 13, Orchi 11, Scala, De Mitri 10, Tagliaferri ne, Esposito, Takrou, Virgilio ne, Silatsa 25, Soltreni, Lufrano ne. Coach: Visnjic.
MODENA: Bortolani, Koral 11, Tartarini 6, Bernardini, Righi, G. Palmieri 12, Cattabiani 11, Ampollini, Daidone 2, Grandini 3, Melloni 10, Zarfaoui 11. Coach: L. Palmieri.
Referees: Riggio-Migliaccio
Salerno, 8/6/2024
Communication Area Salerno Basket ’92
