Gioia Tauro – The best way to end the season in first place and guarantee home advantage? It took place today, at the packed Palamangione (with a good guest presence), where Cestistica Gioiese and Asd Pollino gave life to an incredible battle, in keeping with the role that the two teams have in the top regional Calabrian basketball championship.
Gioia has to give up Salvo De Gregorio (still with a messy hand but proudly in the starting twelve), Simone Lupoi (MVP in the last match three days ago against Soverato); Pollino is also without Aloisio, Donato and Filpo. – writes the club note.
Ready to go and Gioia begins with the crazy accelerations of Fra Pezzimenti, seven points in a row for the under Gioia with the fairy hands.
Pollino replies immediately, the other under Perrone has the hot hand and the guests first impact it and then put their noses forward, until their only and maximum advantage: 9-14.
Gioia collects, but you can see that he is hungry and doesn’t want to give in, Cutrì approaches, Ciccio Russo takes a three-pointer, Pezzimenti continues to make a basket. Russo D. and Gazineo make themselves heard, Gioia shoots ahead of the clock, but Pollino is just a breath away: 18-16.
In the second quarter Gioia tries to push forward, the defenses contain, the attacks fire blanks, but Gioia always keeps the advantage, the boys are spirited and don’t want to be put down. Pollino remains solid, doesn’t let itself fall away, two seconds from the end we are still there, 29-27.
Time out, Peppe Polimeni warms up the slate, throw-in with the Gioia players first all going forward and then all back, ball to Jacopo Cutrì in midfield. Now accustomed to buzzer beaters, he shoots easily from midfield and only takes the ball. The building collapses, Gioia turns on +5 (32-27).
In the third quarter, Ciccio Russo turns on the motorbike, Germanò, Monea and Pezzimenti paint the defense, even for a high-level attack like Pollino, making a basket is one of Hercules’ efforts, Gioia stretches, goes. Stanganelli and Manu Nicoletta retain, it seems like a good lead in the thirtieth minute: 55-44.
In the fourth quarter Gioia is now in full competitive trance, but Pollino does not remain passive: Russo, Cutrì and Pezzimenti make a basket, Pollino resists with Gazineo, Russo and D’Agostino, but is unable to turn the momentum and goes sixteen behind.
It seems over, but not according to Raffaele Rennis, who scores three consecutive triples and all the effort he has to bring Pollino closer.
Nicoletta takes care of it, putting on her Superman cape and placing two crazy spin baskets, then Russo saves. The mermaid is a liberation, everything is accomplished.
Basketball, certainly not the first favorite on the eve, only knows how to win. Incredible guys, who refuse to lose, and who have found in Giuseppe Polimeni the creator of dream chemistry.
Pollino makes a great impression, fights and comes out an honorable winner, the feeling is that the two teams will meet again.
Well refereed match, in the end a celebration for the people of Gioia who, especially in these moments, need positive heroes like the boys of basketball.
Gioiese basketball – Asd Pollino 75-67
(18-16; 14-11; 23-17 20-23)
Basketball: Monea 5, De Gilio ne, Nicoletta 6, Germanò 1, Pezzimenti 18, Russo G. 4, Stanganelli 2, Russo F. 24, Romeo ne, Orsino ne, Cutrì 15.
Pollino: Gazineo 13, D’Agostino 10, Astorino ne, Filpo, Rennis 19, Russo D. 16, Perrone P., Caligiuri ne, De Luca, Perrone V. 9 Ammirati ne, Perrone A.
Classification
Gioiese 44
Pollino 38
New Basketball Soverato 30
Basketball Pellaro 30
Pianopoli 24*
Vis 20
Shops 16
Ccb 11
Bim Boom 10*
New Basketball Rescue 4
