The Sanmaurense surrenders to Marnate in race 1

It ends 68-46 for the Varese team. Wednesday at PalaBasletta Edimes will have to win to keep the hope of the final alive

GORLA MAGGIORE (VA)

Edimes Sanmaurense is forced to surrender in game 1 of the play off semifinal in Gorla Maggiore, on the Marnatese parquet with a score of 68-46. To mark the fate of the match is a first devastating period (33-12 inside the 10 ‘), in which the hosts realize with monstrous percentages, especially from beyond the arc (6 bombs on the scoresheet). Coach Roberto Fossati’s boys try to mend a minimum with the defense, but Marnate, led by the great performances of Cattaneo and Augusto, gives another push in the third quarter (57-34 at 30 ‘) which effectively closes the accounts.

The match is immediately intense: Cattaneo is hot with 5 points in a row, Ragni and Pagetti respond and it is 5-4 at 2 ‘. Preatoni, Arui and Cattaneo again try the break, but Gatto and Ragni have other ideas and Edimes remains in contact (11-9 at 5 ‘). There is not a moment of respite, Ragni takes advantage of Infanti’s assist to the kiss, even if Cattaneo scores his tenth point and, well assisted by Augusto (6 consecutive), allows his first real reach (22-11 at 8 ‘). The storm does not subside with Preatoni who places two more triples and Augusto who scores on the siren: the result is a scorching 33-12 at 10 ‘for the hosts, in absolute control, thanks also to spatial shooting percentages. Biraghi tries to react with talent, Augusto still finds the bottom of the retina, then the two teams struggle in the attacking phase for the next three minutes (38-17 at 15 ‘).

The defense holds, but it is not enough

The Edimes defense now holds, Ragni is a rebounding factor and Pagetti pockets four points in a row that lead the red and white to -17 at the long interval (40-23). Augusto starts again from where he left off, that is scoring, while the Sanmaurense, which despite finding good defenses, never manages to achieve, also thanks to the bad evening shot by Infanti (43-23 at 24 ‘). Gatto unlocks his with three free throws, Bruciamonti scores two triples and Edimes timidly makes up for it (48-32 at 27 ‘). Tiengo and Arui extinguish the guest enthusiasm with the same coin, before Guidi and Preatoni’s free throws set the score at 57-34 at 30 ‘.

Pagetti opens the last fraction with a penetration, closely followed by two free throws by Biraghi, but it is still Augusto who re-establishes the distance (61-38 at 34 ‘). Gualandi and Biraghi place a 5-0 pride, even if the game is now over.

Edimes will now have to win game 2, scheduled for Wednesday at PalaRavizza, to try to bring the series to the “beautiful”. –