With seven heroic rotations, a substantial contribution of 23 points from the two elements who came off the bench who joined the 42 of the first quintet, another evening of applause for the Ecuador prospect Blanca Quiñonez, but above all with Martina’s buzzer-beater Kacerik. Molisana Magnolia Campobasso goes on to conquer the PalaNat of Sesto San Giovanni, blowing up the field factor for the fifth time in as many seasonal matches between the two teams between the championship and the Italian Cup. The rossoblù, in fact, prevailed by three over Geas and brought the quarterfinal series, against the Lombards, to the decisive match three on Wednesday 1st May at 8pm at the Arena.
MUTED START Following the long wave of success in game one at the Arena, the Lombard team harnessed the steelflowers at the start: with a 7-0 break the host quintet reached their maximum lead of the evening on +10 of 14-4 on the lap first quarter mark. Here, however, around Dedić, Kunaiyi, Trimboli and Mištinová the rossoblù score a 12-3 run which brings them closer to within one with which the quarter ends.
TRIUMPHAL MARCH Between the first and second period, the Magnolias put on a 10-0 run (Quiñonez inspiring with five points) with which they managed to take two possessions full of margin (17-23). Again Quiñonez and Kunaiyi widen the margin bringing it into double figures, then – towards the end – Morrison, Dedić and Mištinová make the rossoblù fly to +16 (23-39) at the height of the long interval.
HIGH AND LOW In the first half of the third period the Magnolias reached their maximum advantage of the evening on three occasions (six full possessions for +18), but in that moment the Lombards tried to throw their heart over the obstacle by reducing the gap and bringing it to just ten points at 30′ (41-51).
IN THE HANDS OF MARTINA The tension is felt on the Campobasso side. Sesto San Giovanni comes close to two possessions on more than one occasion, then to one, then – thanks to Quiñonez’s fifth foul – it scores 62. The last possession, however, is for the fioridacciao and Martina Kacerik’s triple scores the rossoblù supporters in Paradise on a magical last Sunday of April, on a sporting level, for the regional capital.
WITH THE REPORT CLOSED In the locker room, the rossoblù coach Mimmo Sabatelli is obviously satisfied. «I knew the great character of this team and we were all aware – he argues – of the difficulty of this match. After a tight start, from minus ten to the twenty-fifth we gave life to twenty minutes of remarkable basketball both in attack and defense. It’s normal that, with their attempt to return, we would have paid the price to the tension, also decreasing a little due to tiredness. They had to make a basket, but we were able to come out with luck which, moreover, gave us back what it had taken from us in game one.” «This series characterized by extreme balance represents a unique spot for women’s basketball – he comments – and now we will go and play it again in front of our fans, which represents a sensational result. We will try, until the end, to reverse the inertia of the field factor that has always failed in this season’s matches. We’ll enjoy this success for a few more hours, then we’ll be ready to work hard with our minds set on Wednesday, when we’ll be expected by another battle.”
BASKETBALL PLAYERS’ FESTIVAL The one which, on Wednesday 1st May with tap-off at 8pm and designated stage La Molisana Arena, will be synonymous with game three of the quarterfinal series. Already last season the rossoblù achieved success in the first round of the playoffs. Being able to move forward would represent a further unique page in the extraordinary book of the very young history of steelflowers .
ALLIANZ GEAS SESTO SAN GIOVANNI 62 LA MOLISANA MAGNOLIA CAMPOBASSO 65 (17-16, 23-39; 41-51)
SESTO SAN GIOVANNI: Conti G. 8 (2/3, 1/6), Panzera 21 (5/7, 3/4), Gwathmey 6 (3/8, 0/2), Trucco 4 (2/3, 0 /2), Moore 13 (2/8, 1/3); Wadoux 6 (0/2, 2/4), Begić (0/1), Dotto C. 4 (1/3). Ne: Arturi and Tava. All.: Zanotti.
CAMPOBASSO: Trimboli 9 (2/4, 1/1), Morrison 9 (3/7, 1/2), Mištinová 7 (2/2, 1/4), Dedić 8 (3/5), Kunaiyi 9 (3 /7); Kacerik 8 (1/3, 2/4), Quiñonez 15 (5/9, 1/3). Ne: Narvičiūtė, Giacchetti and Trozzola. All.: Sabatelli.
REFEREES: Bartoli (Trieste), De Biase (Treviso) and Tirozzi (Bologna). NOTES: exit for five fouls at 39’33” (60-62) Quiñonez (Campobasso). Technical foul at 28’11” (35-46) for Sabatelli (Campobasso coach). Free throws: Sesto San Giovanni 11/18; Campobasso 9/12. Rebounds: Sesto San Giovanni 35 (Moore 10); Campobasso 29 (Kunaiyi 9). Assist: Sesto San Giovanni 14 (Trucco and Panzera 3); Campobasso 17 (Trimboli 6). Score progression: 14-4 (5′), 18-30 (15′), 27-45 (25′), 48-55 (35′). Maximum advantage: Sesto San Giovanni 10 (14-4); Campobasso 18 (27-45).
