The Canicattinese team plays the championship in one of the most difficult groups of the Sicilian federation, where there are authentic battleships (TC 1 Palermo and TC Sciacca among others). In the group we placed in 5th place before TC3 Palermo who we had beaten 4-2 at home but that wasn’t enough. So here we are at the play outs. A play-off in two home and away games. The draw forces CT Brolo and Planet Tennis Canicattì to clash, protagonists of an epic double challenge that took place on the Sundays of 7 and 14 April 2024. The formula of the team matches involves four singles and two doubles being played. The outcome of the two matches will make the finale epic and sportingly dramatic. The first meeting takes place in Brolo. The final result is 4-2 for the hosts who take full advantage of the home court factor by winning three of the four singles and one of the doubles: 4-2 Brolo but we have the chance to fight it out in the return leg.
And here it is the return. Sunday 14 April at the fields of the friends of TC Sommatino who hosted us in the home matches. Coach Pedani mixes the cards with a bit of strategy and tries to annoy the insidious and expert Saieva with Matteo Romano who, after losing the first set, prevails in the second set and comes close to winning in the third set. Saieva makes her experience count and wins in three sets. Sin! The other match pits our Vincenzo Parla against Paolo Perseu. First set taken home by a very solid Parla who in the second set suffered a great comeback from his opponent who clearly won the set. But it’s the third set that begins to show the signs of what will be an epic day for the Planet. Vincenzo finds himself down first 54 and then 65. He manages to take the decisive set to the tie-break but things seem to be going badly. The score reads 5-3 for Perseu. But just when each of the two teams glimpses respectively the abyss and salvation at hand, Parla’s heart and head re-emerge and Vincenzo, like a lion, takes home the match keeping Planet’s hopes alive: 1- 1!
Now on the field there are numbers 1 and 4. Mattias Pisanu (2.6 Planet) against Scaffidi and Gabriele Russo against Leonardo Aglio (both under 16). Mattias Pisanu prevails in two sets making use of his greater class and of shots and accelerations from the baseline which arouse the admiration of those present and which give a glimpse of a high level future.
Gabriele Russo erases the first leg defeat, regaining the condition of the last two months where he showed great tennis and easily wins the match: 3-1 Planet!
The audience in the stands enjoys the show and begins to perceive that it will not be an ordinary day. Lunch break and then everyone present to encourage the protagonists in a healthy and educational sporting spirit.
Here we are at the decisive doubles! On field 1 coach Pedani fields Mattias Pisanu and our second under 16 Matteo Ancona, while the other pair is made up of coach Ciccio Pedani himself and Matteo Romano. The Pisanu – Ancona pair, after a set on each side, find themselves in the Super tie-break where they take a 5-1 lead but, thanks to an excess of adrenaline and inexperience, they try to force their hand by granting some free throws that put the players back into play. opponents and ultimately losing 10-8. At the same time, just as the situation of the doubles made up of the Planet’s youngsters seemed to be channeling itself towards a positive outcome, on the other court the Pedani-Romano pair, leading by a set, with the match seemingly in hand, found themselves having to face a difficult and unexpected situation. Matteo Romano collapses to the ground victim of cramps: lost set and decisive super tie-break. At this point everything seems lost. But here comes the class and mastery of Francesco Pedani to the Planet’s rescue. Aware of his teammate’s physical difficulties, he remotely controls the trajectories of his shots, preventing his opponents from making the limping Matteo Romano play difficult shots. Sporting miracle come true: the mastery of Ciccio Pedani and the heroic resistance of Matteo Romano give the victory. It ends 10-7, partial 4-2 and perfect parity with the result of the first leg: we go to the double play-off.
Our team, with total conviction on the part of coach Pedani, proposes the Pisanu – Ancona pair again, while Brolo, after a long consultation, decides to field Scaffidi – Perseu.
The double started badly for Planet who found themselves 2-0 down. The turning point begins in the third game. Things improve after a tense start especially from the young Ancona, probably conditioned by the importance of the match. The situation seems to be getting better and some classy plays by Mattias Pisanu and decisive goals by Matteo Ancona give Planet the first set. But the day was an extraordinary one and in the second set, with Planet leading 4-2, the unthinkable happened with pathos pouring out onto the Sommatino courts. Four games in a row for the guests and it ends 6-4 for Brolo with the last decisive and decisive super tie-break where, finally, the suffering stops, repaying the sacrifices of the whole team. Perhaps because it was written that we had to preserve the C series regained last year, here Mattias Pisanu and Matteo Ancona show off a great performance with the second, under 16 at his first experiences in the category, who continues to have the excellent percentage of first balls he had in the match, holding the diagonal forehand against the more popular Scaffidi, also proving effective at the net. After the 2-2, the Planet takes a partial lead of 7-2 and therefore a score of 8-4, two points from safety. The next two points, however, go to the opponents and seem to bring back the specters of the previous double, but at the score of 8-6 the Planet pair does not retreat an inch and after an incredible exchange at the net, they win the point which is worth the match point which materializes in the next point and guarantees permanence in the prestigious category. Team rating: 10! To everyone, to the players, to the president Totò Paci who believed in the group and together with coach Pedani sought and wanted the fundamental addition of Mattias Pisanu, to the players’ families and to everything that was needed for a small provincial club to be able to compete in a very difficult championship, confirming a decades-long tradition. So let’s make room for the party. We will be there again!!! We will return to play the prestigious championship with our youth players, the under 16s Gabriele Russo and Matteo Ancona who are continually growing, with the experience of captain Francesco Pedani, Vincenzo Parla and Matteo Romano and the enthusiasm of president Totò Paci who we hope will strengthen the team, perhaps giving us the performances and beautiful tennis of Mattias Pisanu for another year.
Forza Planet…the dream continues! (DOES)
Tags: Canicattì Web News Planet Tennis Canicattì wins play outs maintains series
