At PalaTagliate, in the match valid for the 23rd day of the Serie A1 Women’s “Techfind” championship, a generous O.ME.PS BricUp Battipaglia fights with ardor for 40 minutes before surrendering, in a most honorable way, to Gesam Gas & Luce Lucca who imposes with the score of 74-66. First quarter with fluctuating inertia. The first 6 minutes see Battipaglia as the protagonist dragged by an irrepressible Melgoza who, scoring from everywhere, scores 14 points in the first fraction. Then, with the guests on +6 (11-17), here is the reaction of the hosts (propitiated by an enterprising Pastrello) that allows Lucca to overturn the situation. At 10 ‘, the Tuscans are ahead of 2 (22-20). Today’s O.ME.PS BricUp has nothing to do with the dull and soft one of the most recent releases. This is confirmed by a second quarter that Battipaglia plays at very high levels.
The performance of the guests is, in short, of great depth, also because in front there is a valuable team that is looking for heavy points. The second fraction is intense and balanced and ends with Battipaglia who, thanks to a basket by the usual Melgoza, finds the well-deserved advantage just a few seconds from the long interval (39-40). Even in the third quarter, Melgoza’s show continues. His repeating baskets and the triple of an excellent Potolicchio make Battipaglia fly (+9 at 24 ‘, 41-50). Lucca’s reaction is, however, as fast as it is angry and allows her first to reach (on 52 all, Jakubcova’s basket) then to overcome (thanks to a basket made by Orsili) the generous guests (54-52 at 28 ‘) . In the last minutes of the fraction, the hosts also try to escape, but the attempt fails because, thanks to the monumental performance of Melgoza (arrived, meanwhile, at 28 points), the O.ME.PS BricUp remains fully in the game. At 30 ‘, Lucca is ahead of 4 (58-54). The last quarter begins in the best possible way for Battipaglia who, thanks to the 2/2 from the line by Potolicchio and a basket from the area by Moroni, reaches a draw in the 32nd minute (58-58). The guests, however, have spent a lot – the energies are at a glance – and, inevitably, they pay duty in the finale.
The unleashed Pastrello, Smorto and Orsili sign the break that decides the dispute in favor of Lucca. O.ME.PS BricUp no longer has any and, despite a splendid performance, is forced to surrender. The Tuscans, fresher and more lucid, manage the last remnants of the match with authority and take home two key points, winning with a score of 74-66. For Battipaglia, despite a stratospheric Melgoza (28 points and 12 rebounds), the fourth consecutive defeat arrives, but today there are few regrets: in the current conditions it was difficult to do more and better. Now we need to think about the immediate future and to give continuity to an encouraging performance in view of the play-outs. Finally, always in the Battipaglia home, the debut in A1 of the very young Ester Vicinanza.
FINAL RESULT 74-66 (22-20; 39-40; 58-54; 74-66)
MATCH TABLE
Gesam Gas & Luce Lucca Jakubcova 15, Cibeca NE, Pastrello 7, Russo 2, Orsili 11, Miccoli 12, Pallotta NE, Farnesi NE, Harper 14, Smorto 8, Tunstull 5. Coach: Iurlaro.
O.ME.PS BricUp Battipaglia Logoh, Melgoza 28, Moroni 9, Seka NE, Mazza, Potolicchio 12, Hersler 8, Bocchetti 5, Dione, Vicinanza, Mattera 4. Coach: Corà.