Yes, it’s not a dream, but a beautiful, beautiful reality. From Purgatory, Virtus Cagliari finds Paradise again, from Serie B, where it was for 3 seasons, conquering the women’s A2 series on the field. Today, at the PalaRestivo, the decisive match against Melsped Padova demonstrated that the Cagliari team deserves the higher division. The statistics say it (this year Fabrizio Staico’s team has lost on only two occasions), but above all the pitch says it. Because Virtus not only defended with teeth that +8 gained in the first leg of the final match against the Venetian team (61-53), but they increased that score by winning, in front of their own fans, 67-60.
They were 40 minutes of great intensity, but also very hot inside the Virtus “balloon”, sold out 90′ before the start of the match. Because everyone wanted to be there, everyone wanted to support these magnificent girls and everyone with them, in the end they wanted to celebrate. And so it was.
Against Padova, apart from the heat, Virtus got their hands on the ticket to A2 already at the end of the first half. A partial of 20-10 (7-3 the initial lead for Padova) which made the visiting team’s legs tremble and gave the Cagliari girls a full boost.
On many occasions, during the season it was said that Virtus’ weapon is the group. And in fact even today, the “group” and let’s also add the defensive package, ensured that that 10-point lead (+ the 8 from the first leg gives us 18 points) to be the key to the match that has always been firmly in the hands of the virtussins.
The baskets by Giulia Corda, Lucchini, Diana Valtcheva and Claudia Vargiu put Virtus on the right path who, in the second quarter, continued to keep the tension high, controlling their opponents. An advantage that reached +14 at the start (again signed by Giulia Corda) with Padova in great difficulty in being able to overcome a Virtussian rearguard that was always alert, dynamic and hermetic, with Podda, Vargiu, Rabchuk and Joana Valtcheva leaving few spaces free to opposing initiatives.
Guests therefore forced to shoot from outside. Virtus leaves with +16 (30-14) with Yana Rabchuk. The time out is a must for coach Tomei. Upon returning to the field, the Venetian coach’s instructions are useful for the group to place a 9-0 break which allows Melsped to get within -5 of Virtus (30-25). However, Carla Lucchini takes care of bringing Virtus back to +10 at the end of the first 20′ with a triple and two free throws: 35-25.
At the restart Corda and Diana Valtcheva momentarily take the team’s hand and they break away again (41-27 in the 25th minute). It’s just a moment, because Padova doesn’t want to give up so easily and, taking advantage of a mental break from the virtussins, they go back down and find the way to the basket and those points that mean a new break of 11-0 (41-36 at 26′ ). Some changes by coach Staico and Virtus at +10 (46-36). Staico’s team manages until the 30th minute which ends at 54-45 for the hosts.
The last 10 minutes of the season arrive. Padova is always lurking with Captain Pellegrini and her teammates monitoring. A triple from Joana Valtcheva and two points from her sister Diana secure the result (63-49 in the 35th minute). There are 5 minutes to go and the fatigue is starting to make itself felt. Padova tries everything and relies on the Cognolato/Meneghini duo to try to get back into the game. Virtus, however, sees the goal close and does not get upset by controlling their opponents. And meanwhile the chorus rises in the stands: “Serie A! Serie A”. What until now was an unachievable dream has now become reality: Virtus is in Serie A2.
Fabrizio Staico – Coach Virtus Cagliari
“It’s the culmination of a work that lasted three years. We tried already in the aftermath of the relegation to work to find the right team that would allow us to move up the category again and, finally this year we succeeded. Cohesive team, humble and determined. In these cases it is not right to name names because they all gave a big hand to be able to reach the A2 series: from the senators to the youngest who have grown a lot.”
When was the decisive moment of the playoffs that made you realize that you could return to A2?
“Honestly, after the victory against Pontevico, I thought we had the numbers to be able to win the championship: and so it was.”
And now should we immediately think about Serie A?
“Let’s say that in terms of planning with the club we talked about it in recent weeks, but never concrete discussions as we knew how difficult it could be to be able to return to Serie A2. So today we’re thinking about celebrating, then it will be the club, which wants to remain in A2, to make choices to find the right balance, trying, above all, to enhance our young players”.
How much did you believe in this promotion?
“Not only this season, but I repeat, we believed in it and worked to regain the A2 series since the first season, then unfortunately there are also opponents who tripped us. Our goal has always been to regain the lost championship , then to win a championship you need many factors: hard work on the pitch, the luck of the events that are part of the journey but I must admit that we were good at managing them thanks also to the help I had from my collaborators who completed the technical staff Where I couldn’t reach, they did.”
Paolo Pellegrini – President Virtus Cagliari
“A fantastic group well trained by Fabrizio Staico and his staff. I noticed that right from the beginning of the season, already during the preparation the team was united and this gave me hope. And then the pitch did the rest. Over the course of the season the team grew day after day, then in the last few games we saw that we were able to compete with anyone and in the end I can freely say that we really deserved this promotion.”
Is it already time to think about Serie A?
“We will compete in Serie A, but I would like to point out that the majority of the squad will be made up of girls from the Virtus academy. Then it is clear that from tomorrow we will look around to be able to understand together with the staff what the team is missing to be competitive in the series A2”.
Giulia Corda – Playmaker Virtus Cagliari
“It wasn’t a surprise. Because I want to point out that this promotion is the result of work that began three years ago and succeeding was truly a great satisfaction for me, but in particular for the whole group. Because our strength this year it wasn’t the presence of individuals, but the unity of the whole squad. At the first mistake we all went to each other, we helped each other and we overcame the difficulties together this year However, we all believed in it, especially in the playoffs, we had the perception that we could achieve the feat: and so it was, and now we go to Serie A. I’m ready, we’re ready and we can’t wait to get started.” .
Diana Valtcheva – Winger Virtus Cagliari
“Today we were very excited and determined to win this match. Because it meant A2, but also because for the progress made this year we deserved to reach the top step of the podium”.
But have you believed in it more and more since the start of the playoffs?
“Yes, it’s true. Our strength grew more and more after every match we won and this allowed us to arrive at the match against Padova knowing that we could do it. And in the end we succeeded.”
Anna Lussu – Play-guard Virtus Cagliari
“We believed in it a lot, especially in this second phase also because at the beginning the championship didn’t give us a way to understand our true strength. Then when the playoffs started, game after game we began to understand that we were second to none and today the promotion arrived, deserved and achieved by a truly united group. And I think this was Virtus’ strength. In the playoffs I think Padova was the team that put us in difficulty especially because they were physically structured Padua, especially by watching a lot of videos so we can get to know our opponents better. It’s been a really intense two weeks both mentally and for the great work done in the gym.”
Today, in addition to Padua, your other opponent was the great heat. How much did it impact?
“Yes, it was very hot, but when you are on the pitch you feel very little. However, we thought about playing even if I must say that we drank a lot of water and remained constantly hydrated. There were also moments of air shortages, but I think that all the same Even the girls from Padua who were not used to these temperatures had a problem.”
Ready for A2?
“If they keep me (laughs), I’ll say yes.”
Carla Lucchini – Wing Virtus
“From the beginning of the season, for us as a team, our goal was to reach the final and find promotion to A2. And in the end the work done during the year rewarded us.”
Did Padua put you in difficulty anyway?
“They are a good group who, like us, played with a lot of heart and a lot of determination. But we did very well, building this success match after match and today we closed the circle by obtaining a truly deserved promotion.”
Carla Lucchini who has improved a lot this year, especially in this final tournament…
“I worked harder, but I must say that the results obtained are truly the result of great team work: if the individuals play well, the individuals also benefit. And that was the case.”
Ready for the A2 series?
“Yes, yes”.
Laura Pellegrini Bettoli – Play and captain of Virtus
“Our team objective from the beginning of the season was to be able to secure a ticket to the final and in the end we succeeded, also achieving a well-deserved promotion to Serie A2. This was also seen today that in moments of difficulty we were remained united and compact until the end”.
When, in the playoffs, did you realize that you could win the A2 series?
“There wasn’t a particular moment. We built this promotion day after day and the facts proved us right.”
Was an ending like this a dream for you?
“I have always dreamed of an epilogue like this. And let’s say that today the dreams have become reality. We waited a long time, overcoming problems and difficulties, but in the end this promotion has arrived which repays us for all the sacrifices and problems we have had to endure and overcome over the last three seasons.”
Ready for the A2 series?
“Yes, if the president calls I’ll be there.”
Giada Podda – Winger Virtus Cagliari
“A great satisfaction. It was a truly special season which saw us as protagonists in Serie B and then in the playoffs the true Virtus came out: a compact team, cohesive especially in moments of difficulty. Our strength was precisely this. A group on and off the pitch that never gave up, managing to win match after match and celebrate a truly deserved promotion.”
The extra weapon in the playoffs was the defense and Giada Podda is a cornerstone of the Virtus defense…
“Yes, our defense worked really well in the playoffs, conceding very little to our opponents. Game after game we improved a lot and it was really a problem for our opponents to find the way to the basket.”
Ready for the A2 series?
“Of course, I can’t wait to start battling under the boards of the A2 series.”
Virtus Cagliari – Melsped Padova 67-60
Virtus Cagliari: Lussu 2, Vargiu 2, Lucchini 5, Gallus, Pasolini, Corda 19, J. Valtcheva 8, Rabchuk 11, Podda 3, Pellegrini Bettoli 3, D. Valtcheva 12, Anedda 2. Coach: Fabrizio Staico.
Melsped Padova: Marcon 1, Pilli 8, Beraldo 2, Salmaso, Cognolato 10, Boaretto 1, Meneghini 12, Gambarin, Angelini 9, Sorrentino 6, Antonello 11. Coach: Tomei.
Partial scores: 20-10; 15-15; 19-20; 13-15.
Referees: Eugenio Roberti from Naples and Matteo Lilli from Ladispoli.
