Castelnuovo at home with Sanga Milano defends his leadership

The Giraffes aim tonight to remain first in the standings also to secure a place in the final eight of the Italian Cup

VOGHERA

Second consecutive home match for Autosped Castelnuovo Scrivia who tonight at PalaOltrepo in Voghera (duo at 20.30) meets Sanga Milano, currently 4th in the standings, 4 lengths behind the unbeaten leaders of coach Francesca Zara. If successful, the Giraffes, in addition to maintaining the solitary primacy, would make an important, if not decisive, step forward for access to the final eight of the Italian Cup, in which the first 4 classified of each of the 2 groups, North and South, at the end of the first round. Milan, which last year, perhaps a little surprisingly, reached the final promotion, then lost against Akronos Moncalieri, was further strengthened in the summer with the addition of the former Castelnuovo Tay Madonna, one of the top players of the category, able to guarantee leadership, direction and points and flanked, in the control room, by the former Sarcedo (but from the Schio school) Viviani, also a very formidable shooter from the perimeter as well as Penz who actively contributed, the year passed, to the climb to the top flight of Moncalieri. The challenge will be directed by Alex Oliver Di Mauro from Bologna and Lorenzo Bianchi from Riccione. Virtually certain is the absence of Ilaria Bonvecchio in the ranks of the writers, who came out in the last match against Ponzano Veneto at the beginning of the 3rd quarter due to a bad sprained right ankle. The instrumental tests have fortunately excluded bone lesions, but the 27-year-old playmaker from Trentino will not be able to be in the match. His recovery is also in strong doubt for the big match on 5 December, when the Autosped will visit the Parking Graf Crema of sporting director Marco Mezzadra, currently second 2 points behind the Giraffes, but with a match to recover.

Serie A2 Northern group (8th day). Today: Ponzano-Valbruna Bolzano (19), Mantua-Treviso (20.30), Castelnuovo-Milan (20.30), Alperia Bolzano-Torino Teen (20.30), Carugate-Alpo (20.30). Tomorrow: Brixia-Crema (18). Udine-Vicenza postponed. Classification: Castelnuovo Scrivia 14; Cream *, Brixia * 12; Milan, Alpo 10; Udine * 8; Mantua * 6; Ponzano *, Vicenza *, Valbruna Bolzano, Carugate 4; Alperia Bolzano 2; Torino Teen *, Treviso 0. (* one match less). –

FRANCO SCABROSETTI