Taranto, victory of the heart: Virtus Aversa beaten and 2025 closed with a smile
A victory that is worth much more than the points won. La Prisma La Cascina Taranto beat Virtus Aversa, the third force in the championship, at the end of an intense and hard-fought match 3-1 (15-25, 28-26, 30-28, 25-21), finding energy, character and pride to give themselves an unexpected and therefore even more welcome success, which closes a difficult 2025 in the best possible way.
It was a match of heart and sacrifice, built point after point, with Taranto always capable of remaining within the match even in the most complicated moments, without ever losing clarity and team spirit. What made the difference was the compactness of the group and the desire not to give up, qualities that allowed the rossoblù to get the better of a high-level opponent.
The absolute protagonist of the evening was Jannis Hopt, called into question and capable of responding with a performance of great substance and personality. The German ended the match as MVP with 14 points, being decisive in the key moments of the match.
Alongside him, Pierotti also shines, a true emotional driver of the team: 10 points for him and an excellent overall performance, made up of intensity, leadership and important plays that gave confidence to the whole group.
But Lusetti’s play was also excellent, involving a perfect Cianciotta with 20 points under his belt and the two centre-backs always on guard and also careful about blocking. Lots of heart and hunger for victory also from Gollini and Luzzi, capable of covering every inch of the PalaFiom with acrobatic defenses and precise receptions. A victory for everyone, which also makes the rossoblù management happy, as Vice President Elisabetta Zelatore declared:
First of all, I want to thank Mister Lorizio and the general director Vito Primavera, who in this period are doing their utmost both at a technical and managerial level to fill some gaps and overcome the difficulties we are experiencing. It’s a complicated moment, a particularly difficult week, but I saw an important response from the kids who really believe in it, who put their heart into it and who feel part of our project: this evening they gave everything they could give and I’m convinced that in the future they will be able to give even more.
We thank them, we thank all those who believe in what we are building together. We believe in humble people, in serious and concrete athletes: we don’t like prima donnas, we don’t like athletes who look down on others. Here, those who want to have an easy life in our society and on our parquet must embrace our motto: humility, seriousness and concreteness. Anyone who doesn’t have these characteristics is simply in the wrong place.
Special thanks also go to all the fans who came this evening: they filled a beautiful, warm arena, which pushed the boys from start to finish. Coming to follow us during a holiday period is a sign of great attachment and shows how much we believe in the work we are doing. To those who didn’t come I say that, once again, they missed the opportunity to experience a beautiful evening and a good show: the matches are experienced live, not comfortably sitting on the sofa at home. Live broadcasts are only followed when it cannot be done otherwise, for example away games.
Now let’s look ahead: the next match will immediately be a trip to Catania. We hope to see the same spirit, the same reaction and the same determination even away from our parquet, because what we saw this evening must become our starting point, at home and away.”
(15-25, 28-26, 30-28, 25-21)
Taranto deploys the diagonal Lusetti-Hopt, Bossi-Sanfilippo in the center, Antonov-Cianciotta in 4 libero Gollini
Aversa starts with the diagonal Garnica-Motzo, in the center Volpato-Mattei, in 4 Tiozzo-Tallone, Raffa libero
Aversa starts strong, 9-5 with excellent solutions from Motzo and Tallone, Taranto suffers the strong Campania wall and Aversa already leads 8-15. Hopt signs on 10-16. Cianciotta diagonally scores 13-21. Motzo continues to push. Ace by Motzo, 13-24. The set ends 15-25.
In the second set Taranto leads 5-2 with two aces from CIanciotta. Tiozzo however scores the 5-4. Hopt scores 9-7. Cianciotta scores the 11-7. The set proceeds point by point with Taranto always in the lead, good plays from Antonov and CIanciotta on the shields, Pierotti also enters, but Aversa doesn’t give up and holds on, 23-22. Motzo overturns everything 24-24, Cianciotta scores the hands out at 28-26.
Sprint start for the rossoblù who take the lead 5-1. Pierotti scores 10-7, then blocks Motzo 10-7. Excellent defense by Pierotti and Cianciotta scores 14-11. Gollini excellent defenses, Cianciotta scores 18-17. Aversa overtakes again 19-20. Cianciotta scores 22-22. Motzo shoots out, counter-overtaking by the rossoblù 23-22. Let’s go to the advantages. The rossoblù close 30-28.
In the fourth set Taranto continues to push, Cianciotta scores 13-8. Cianciotta gains 16-12, then Tiozzo attacks out 17-12. Cianciotta scores 19-16. Motzo misses the serve and Taranto gets 21-19. Aversa doesn’t give up but Taranto turns out to be more cynical, Hopt closes 25-21.
12th Day And. (28/12/2025) – Regular Season Serie A2 Credem Banca, Season 2025
Prisma La Cascina Taranto – Virtus Aversa 3-1 (15-25, 28-26, 30-28, 25-21) – Prisma La Cascina Taranto: Lusetti 3, Antonov 4, Bossi 7, Hopt 14, Cianciotta 20, Sanfilippo 7, Luzzi (L), Galiano 0, Gollini (L), Pierotti 10. NE Yamamoto, Lorusso, Zanotti. All. Lorizio.
Virtus Aversa: Garnica 2, Tiozzo 14, Mattei 12, Motzo 29, Tallone 16, Volpato 8, Vattovaz 0, Raffa (L). NE Minelli, Mazza, Iorio, Agouzoul, Guerrini, Mentasti. All. Graziosi.
REFEREES: Gasparro, Sumeraro. NOTE – set durations: 23′, 38′, 39′, 33′; total: 133′.
Linda Stevanato Prisma press office La Cascina Taranto
Photo Walter Nobile
