We get to the heart of the National Under 19 Eccellenza Final – Giancarlo Primo Trophy. There are 4 teams left in the hunt for the Scudetto.
On the parquet of the Estra Forum in Chiusi, the program will open at 4.00 pm with the match between Olimpia Milano and Victoria Libertas Pesaro. At 6.30pm Derthona Basket against Pallacanestro Varese.
The semi-finals programme
Saturday 4 May, Estra Forum, Chiusi
4.00 pm EA7 Emporio Armani – Victoria Libertas Pesaro
6.30pm Allianz Derthona Basket – Varese Basketball
The two Under 19 Eccellenza Semifinals have given their results and so tomorrow, Sunday 5 May, EA7 Emporio Armani Olimpia Milano and Allianz Derthona Basket will compete for the Under 19 Eccellenza Scudetto. Before the final, the match for Bronze between Victoria Libertas Pesaro and Pallacanestro Varese (4.30 pm).
In the first semi-final of the 2024 Giancarlo Primo Trophy, the Milanese defeated Victoria Libertas Pesaro 93-90. Not even time to recover from the great emotions of the opening match which saw another very heated match (the seventh of the season, 3-3 before this evening), between Derthona Basket and Pallacanestro Varese. The Piedmontese prevailed 100-97, thus earning the first Scudetto Final in their history.
The match between EA7 Emporio Armani and Allianz Derthona will also be the rematch of the final of the LBA IBSA Next Gen Cup 2024, a match won by Olimpia 79-76. It will be Milan’s chance to write its name again in the Under 19 roll of honor 25 years after the last time, and Tortona’s chance to write it for the first time. It will be a challenge between the youth sectors of two Serie A teams, something that hasn’t happened since 2017 (Virtus Bologna beat L’Aquila Basket in the then Under 18 Eccellenza).
________________________________________________________________
EA7 Emporio Armani Olimpia Milan – US Victoria Libertas Pesaro 93-90
Important start from Milan, Pesaro returns halfway through the period (18-17), but Olimpia on the wings of a very inspired Badalau (9 points) takes the margin back beyond possession. Very tight match: Pesaro at minus one two minutes from the first siren, Milan, in the reverse, scores with Lonati from distance (27-23). Last ring for Vuelle who scores the basket at 30-28. Zero to eight for Pesaro in the opening minutes of the second quarter. Catalani forced to call time at 30-36. The gap produced by the Marche players is worth the plus ten that Milan is unable to close (36-46 at half time). The second half of the half was in favor of Olimpia, but Pesaro did well to withstand the storm and take the match to the locker rooms at 50-57.
Milan doesn’t give up and tries to definitively get back into the match. The Lombards return to a one-possession margin, but in the best moment Pesaro returns to make its voice heard. Vuelle goes from plus three to ten (Stazzonelli 22 and Fainke 21), Milan clings to the performances of Badalau (17) and Casella (14), but the period ends 70-80 for the Marche players. Milan is still trying despite all attempts being returned to the sender. Catalani’s boys recover five points and halve the deficit (75-80 with just over five from the fourth siren). Pesaro still seems in control but the turning point is the unsportsmanlike foul called against Fainke which brings Milan into close contact. The ending is beautiful, as expected: Milan plus one, Pesaro responds with Maretto for the overtaking ninety seconds from the siren (85-86). Time out Olimpia: after the minute of suspension, five close points from the Lombards make it 90-88. Another time out, this time for Pesaro sixteen seconds from the siren. Maretto forcefully makes an impact, but on the other side Casella pulls the rabbit out of the hat with the triple of 93-90 with one second left. Maretto has the last word, but the possible extra shot hits the rim. Milan beats Pesaro 93-90 and is the first finalist of the tournament.
EA7 Emporio Armani Olimpia Milano – US Victoria Libertas Pesaro 93-90 (30-28, 20-29, 20-23, 23-10)
Milan: Casella 19 (1/2, 4/6), Miccoli 10 (4/8, 0/3), Karem (0/1, 0/2), Toffanin (0/1, 0/1), Youssef ne , Suigo 6 (3/5, 0/1), Lonati 18 (2/4, 4/9), Garavaglia 9 (1/2, 2/7), Ceccato ne, Badalau 25 (5/13, 4/8 ), Van Elswyk, Marcucci All. Catalani
Pesaro: Aloi (0/3 from three), Di Francesco 7 (1/2, 1/3), Sparacca ne, Colotti 3 (1/1, 0/1), Stazzonelli 26 (8/11, 2/9) , Maretto 17 (4/7, 1/7), Ghiselli, Sablich 8 (4/5, 0/7), Dragomanni ne, Fainke 21 (8/12), Stazi 5 (2/2 from two), Siepi 3 (1/1 from three) All. Luminati
Referees: Costa, Giovannetti, Roiaz
Allianz Derthona Basketball – Pall. Varese 100-97
First advantage of a full possession for Varese (4-7 with a triple from Bottelli) after a lively back-and-forth in the opening actions of the match. Tortona As in the previous match, a very high level show with overtaking on both sides. Similar partials, 6-0 for Tortona, 0-8 for Varese and the gap never exceeded two possessions. Conte and Bottelli (10 points each with 100% three-pointers) were the star performers of the period which ended with Varese’s lead 27-31. Great balance also in the second period. Tortona tries to put its head forward, but Varese is solid and leads the result for most of the time. Errica takes the lead for the Piedmontese (17 points with 100% from two and 60% from three), Varese has four players in double figures (Bottelli, Tapparo, Prato, Assui). Teams in contact and none able to take off: the first half ends 56-58.
A stellar show, tough defenses and an inevitably very high score. Varese was always ahead until the Juventus break with four triples in quick succession. Tortona goes 81-75 but, obviously, this is not the break that channels the match. Varese responds and comes back minus one within a turn of the hands from the siren. Ring from Farias, immediate reply from Carità from the long and equal eighty-five. Last possession Allianz crashes on the rim: teams at rest in perfect parity. Varese at full speed in the first minute and a half of the fourth period: 0-4 and lead at 85-89. The Lombards are in the lead, also scoring from long range for a plus seven. The first points for Tortona arrived when the game was stopped and after more than three minutes of play. Once Varese’s initial impetus had passed, Tortona, with patience, mended the situation, taking one minus. The final promises to be beautiful: full possession for Varese, 4-0 break by Tortona and a plus two minutes from the fourth siren. Triple Tortona, triple Varese and at the Estra Forum it’s even more one for the Bianconeri with a handful of seconds left in regulation. Allianz defense, Baldi scores the plus-three on the counterattack and Roncari calls time. Upon returning the iron to say no to Varese. Tortona wins 100-97 and reaches Milan in the final.
Allianz Derthona Basketball – Pall. Varese 100-97 (27-31, 29-27, 29-27, 15-12)
Tortona: Baldi 10 (2/6, 2/9), Bresciani ne, Albertinazzi ne, Farias 8 (3/4, 0/1), Tambwe 13 (5/11), Errica 24 (6/6, 4/8 ), Korlatovic ne, Diodati 6 (0/1, 2/5), Fracchia ne, Bellinaso ne, Conte 26 (4/6, 5/9), Josovic 13 (5/13, 1/5). All. Ansaloni
Varese: Turconi ne, Bottelli 17 (6/7, 1/3), Tapparo 18 (3/3, 4/10), Rocchetti ne, Golino (0/3 from three), Bortoli 6 (3/3), Carità 10 (2/3, 2/5), Vinti ne, Prato 14 (4/11, 2/2), Assui 24 (6/12, 2/7), Mana 8 (1/3, 2/2), Bergamin in All. Roncari
Referees: Barbiero, Attard L, Giunta
