Hope is still alive. Paperdi Caserta made its debut masterfully at the renovated and packed PalaPiccolo, beating Solbat Piombino within its friendly walls with the final score of 68-66. A tight match until the end, where the small details made the difference in favor of Ciro Dell’Imperio’s team who, by blocking the best attack in group A of Serie B, rose to 12 points in the standings and got closer to Virtus Salerno, just three points away. And the Bianconeri also have the joker available for the match to recover against Rieti.
In the first few minutes we go at the pace of the Tuscans, who like to shoot in the first seconds of the action. Five points from Piccone make it 3-8, but Caserta finds the strength to react with seven points from Paolo Paci. Piombino tries to put his nose forward again, but the Bianconeri respond blow for blow before baskets from De Zardo and Almansi which close the first quarter at 17-20.
Almansi is still a factor with two triples: for Solbat it is a partial of 0-12 between the first and second quarter which brings the score to 17-28 in the 12th minute. But Caserta reacts again, putting the cap on their own basket and finding important points from Lucas, Mastroianni and Alibegovic, thus returning to a one-possession margin (25-28). Piombino is unable to escape, Paci takes the lead again and Caserta ends the second quarter ahead at 35-34, with a break in favor of 18-6.
Upon returning from the changing rooms, Piombino manages to activate Berra and under his pressure the wingers become dangerous again: Turel and Venucci allow the guests to extend to 38-46. Caserta’s attack doesn’t turn, they score slowly and they remain clinging to Paolo Paci who makes pots and lids, with Paperdi remaining attached to the challenge at 47-55 in the last stop and go.
But Dell’Imperio’s quintet didn’t give up: triples by Mastroianni and Alibegovic, basket by Lucas and in a minute and a half it was tied again (58-58). It becomes a very tight match, the two teams constantly outdo each other with the advantage on one side and the other not exceeding two points in the last seven minutes. Three free throws from Turel in the 4th minute put Piombino back in the lead, but baskets from Paci and Lucas demonstrate that Juve is alive. We enter the last 90” tied, Lucas finds the opportunity to serve Paci for 68-66; Turel misses the winning triple and the party can start at the building in Viale Medaglie d’Oro.
Paperdi Caserta – Solbat Piombino 68-66 (17-20, 35-34, 47-55)
Caserta: Paci 25 (10/12, 0/0), Alibegovic 11 (1/8, 2/5), Mastroianni 10 (2/3, 2/3), Cavallero 9 (1/5, 2/4), Lucas 9 (3/4, 1/3), Vitale 2 (1/2, 0/3), Mehmedoviq 2 (0/1, 0/0), Sergio (0/0, 0/4), Pagano (0 /0, 0/0), Pisapia NE, Pani NE, Ferraro Ne. Annex of the Empire
Piombino: Piccone 15 (5/10, 1/5), Turel 11 (1/1, 2/6), Almansi 11 (1/2, 2/2), De Zardo 8 (1/1, 2/5) , Venucci 6 (0/1, 2/7), Azzaro 5 (1/3, 1/3), Cappelletti 3 (1/2, 0/3), Okiljevic 2 (1/2, 0/3), Longo (0/1, 0/1), D’Antonio (0/0, 0/0). All. Cagnazzo
Referees: Fiore from Naples and Rubera from Bagheria (Palermo)
Caserta: free throws 11/14, rebounds 39 7+32 (Paci 14), assists 13 (Paci, Lucas and Mastroianni 3)
Piombino: free throws 10/16, rebounds 33 8+25 (Venucci 7), assists 11 (Venucci 4)
