Basketball – Once again Fabriano against Rosetoeven once a playoff semifinal to compare two historic rivals.
After last year’s challenge won 3 to 1 by Fabriano (Coach Aniello was on the bench at the time), the Marche players challenge a team built with a single objective: move up in category.
Fabriano contracted party with the hosts more concrete in defense, but Coach Niccolai’s boys begin to grind with the points from a Centanni who is definitely on the ball. The match is played on balance, with the first 10 minutes ending on 21 to 18 for Fabriano.
Fear and bad news for Roseto: Petracca injured a few minutes after the ball. One year after the terrible knee injury during the Fabriano – Roseto series (when he wore the Fabriano tank top) still problems for him and match ended early.
Roseto resumes the second quarter with determination, good solutions arrive and an initial breakthrough brings the Abruzzo team up +7 (32 to 25) at half time.
Fabriano suffers a concrete and determined Roseto, and sinks over the double-digit disadvantage making too many mistakes. At halftime – after a terrible second quarter – the Ristopro is down 45 to 33.
Coming out of the changing rooms, the Marche players immediately try to accelerate, but Roseto is always attentive and determined. However, the last minutes saw the Marche team get closer, even if not in such a way as to worry the home team. With 10 minutes left to play Fabriano chases 65 to 57.
Now the game is played from beyond the arc, Fabriano tries to push with triples from Gnecchi and Centanni reaching -3 at 69 to 66.
But just with the “comeback” objective within reach, one arrives triple by Santiangelia technical whistle to Bedin and the ball lost in attack the unsportsmanlike foul in Bandini. From the possible draw Fabriano drops to -11 (77 to 66).
THE Coach Niccolai’s boys they don’t give up, they squeeze out the last of their energy and make a series of good plays as they arrive again at -3 with a triple (with hands in face) of Negri.
Fabriano clings to Gnecchi, plays tooth and nail and with just under 4 seconds to play try to play the game while it is still down 85 to 83.
A complicated throw from an excellent defense by the Abruzzo team causes Fabriano to lose the ball and he sees it slip his chance to make the game his own: Roseto wins 87 to 83.
