The Imoco two in a row is never wrong: what an answer to Busto

A Prosecco Doc wounded in pride redeems itself with a test of substance. Some tilt between Wolosz and the central players, but when the ball is hot Egonu takes care of it

BUSTO ARSIZIO. Missing two games in a row would not have been a Conegliano thing. The wounded pride last Sunday is transformed into positive energy in the face of a strong-willed Bust, but overall less compact. The panthers rediscover the air of the best evenings, leaving no room for great mental pauses and relaxation of tension.

The victory is convincing and brings the Prosecco Doc Imoco close to the first place, in the wake of Monza and keeping Novara at a distance. Not everything worked properly, like the combinations between Wolosz and the central players and some forcing in attack, but the faces of the players and the team were one of the most beautiful of the season.

Santarelli proposes again at the start the couple of American crushers Courtney and Plummer, for the rest the sextet is the same seen with Monza, with the forced choices of the power plants. The butterflies start strong with Stevanovic and Olivotto (5-2), but there is immediately the reaction of the panthers in the pink version. Egonu in the lob, Folie with the first half and Wolosz with a contended goal find the equalizer.

However, the errors remain, like last Sunday with Monza, and Busto regains the advantage of three points in an instant (9-6). Again Egonu with parallel and wall reports under the companions on 12-11. Busto tries to push hard with his serve on nine meters, finding the ace with Mingardi but going out of size with Stevanovic and Gray. The hosts get more from the power plants than from the external ones, Conegliano can count on an Egonu that seems immediately in the evening and on the growth of Plummer. They are the ones to sign the overtaking (16-18), before the lucky ace of Poulter. Santarelli strengthens the second line with Sylla and Caravello, but Busto also remains attacked by Folie’s mistake in the first half. An amazing Egonu still thinks about it (12 points in the set, with 67% in attack) to close the accounts.

Busto’s speed puts the Conegliano wall in difficulty, which struggles to complete the lateral translations in time and synchronize the jumps. Stevanovic, who Santarelli wants to bring back to the Serbian national team, again take advantage of it, Mingardi and Gray, good at not sparing strength in attacking shots.

Prosecco Doc Imoco still leans on Egonu and Plummer, who are the main forwards of the team. The score never expands above the two points of difference and also gains the competitive level. The errors are few on both sides and the film library deserves a few hits, such as a deep diagonal by Bosetti and a reverse dribble by Folie. The balance remains until 16-16, then comes a five-point push with Plummer (3), Folie and Egonu, thanks, coincidentally, to a greater presence and intrusiveness under the net. Busto fails to be more incisive with his serve and gives two more points with Ungureanu and Stevanovic, imitated by Caravello and Plummer. The decisive point is, needless to say, Egonu.

A small empty pass gives Busto the maximum advantage of the race (9-5 and 12-8). But as soon as Egonu and Plummer raise the percentages, the table overturns and Conegliano goes to the aclead 14-18, also thanks to Vuchkova and Courtney. The bust determination and two errors, however, grant a new tie at 20. The panthers regain the necessary speed and determination and the final, after two bulwarks taken in the face, is still all Egonu’s.