2ND CITY OF PORDENONE TOURNAMENT: TOMORROW PANTHERS AT 15.30 AGAINST PANATHINAIKOS

1st semifinal
PANATHINAIKOS ATHENS 2-3 CDA TALMASSONS
( 25-22,13-25,18-25,26-24,12-15)
Panathinaikos: White 21, Gkreka 6, Iliopoulou, Delic 4, Rapti 1, Kostantinidou 2, Rogka, Tontai, Papageorgiou 7, Antonakaki ne, Kyparissi 4, Orvosova 12, Timmermann 12. Coach: Chiappini
CDA: Barbazeni ne, Mistretta, Grabic 22, Schmit, Gannar 13, Rossetto 14, Molinaro 11, Cassan, Bakodimou ne, Frosini 22, Lengweiler ne, Vighetto, Negretti, Scola 2. Coach: Parazzoli

Set duration: 24′,20′,25′,30′,16’Referees
: Bertossa and Cecconato

2nd semifinal
PROSECCO DOC A.CARRARO IMOCO – VOLLEY BERGAMO 2-3
(26-24,12-25,25-23, 17-25,14-16)

Prosecco DOC: Orso 1, Airhienbuwa ne, Manfredini 18, Folie 7, Piovesan 14, Manda, De Gennaro, Yao 1, Arici ne, Wolosz ne, Cekulaev 8, Czerwonka , Zhu ne, Gordon 8, Sillah 18. Coach Mora

Volley Bergamo: Gelin, Silke 4, Bassi 8, Stigrot 22, Kipp 16, Pietrini 12, Agazzi, Battistoni, Allaoui 1, Esposito, Babatunde 7, Rocca, Carletti. Coach Cervellin

Set duration: 26′,18′,27′,24′,
Referees: De Nard and Polese

Opening day at the PalaCrisafulli for the 2nd edition of the City of Pordenone Tournament, an international quadrangular that has already seen an excellent response from the Friulian public for this Saturday waiting for tomorrow’s grand finale.

It starts with the hard-fought opening match between the Greek champions of Panathinaikos, coached by the former coach of Conegliano Alessandro Chiappini, and CDA Talmassons who toast the return to A1 with a prestigious success. In fact, the former Panther Giorgia Frosini (best scorer with 22 points) and her teammates who will play the final tomorrow to the delight of the Friulian public impose themselves after five very intense sets.

Following the Conegliano Panthers, led on the bench by Maurizio Mora while waiting for the return next week of coach Santarelli, they faced the Chorus Line Bergamo, still keeping Wolosz, Enescu and Zhu Ting on precautionary rest. On the court from the start Yao Di on the dribble, the young Gordon opposite, Sillah and Piovesan spikers, Folie and Manfredini central, De Gennaro free.

The first set sees Bergamo push dragged by Kipp (6 points) and also take three points of margin (16-19), but with an angry final sprint coach Mora’s girls come back down and impose themselves on the advantages for 26-24 thanks to the verve of Manfredini (5 points in the set for the former on duty), Piovesan and Sillah (4 each).

Also in the second set Bergamo starts well (2-5, 10-17) with the usual Kipp and Van Avermaet protagonists. On 10-18 time out of Conegliano, but this time the comeback fails, indeed Bergamo raises the pace again with the serves of Bassi who decisively crushes the ambitions of the Panthers, who close down 12-25 a set dominated by the opponents.

The third set sees Choruslife continue to attack the Panthers with a powerful serve that puts the reception of the Italian Champions in difficulty (6-9). Rapha Folie hits from the center well fed by Di, then goes strong on the block and Conegliano goes back ahead (10-9). With the defenses of Moki De Gennaro, the flashes in attack of Sillah and an effective and present Piovesan both in attack and serve, Prosecco DOC Imoco returns to push and at the final rush is ahead (22-20). Folie closes again (4 points in the set) for 25-23 after two set points canceled by Kipp.

Fourth set with the entry of another of the new Panthers, Anastasia Cekulaev in the center in place of Folie. The German immediately makes herself felt at the wall and the yellow-blues take off, thanks also to Gordon’s shots (4-1, 10-7). Choruslife responds and the set balances. Bassi enters and as in the second set he does damage with his serve and Bergamo makes a big voice (17-22). The final is all about the Orobic who take the match to the tie break with Stigrot (5 p) and a series of aces that close the set 17-25. The fifth and decisive fraction sees great balance in the initial phase, Manfredini tries to break it on serve (6-4). Sillah and Gordon also make themselves heard, then Piovesan signs the 10-6. Pietrini and her teammates do not give up and go back (11-10), then overtake 12-13 after three direct errors by the yellow-blue Panthers. Conegliano cancels two match points, but Babatunde closes 14-16 on the third opportunity.

Tomorrow at 3.30 p.m. the 3rd/4th place final between Panathinaikos and Prosecco DOC A.Carraro Imoco and followed at 6.00 p.m. by the 1st/2nd place final which will see CDA Talmassons and Choruslife Bergamo face each other.
Tickets still available on Vivaticket or directly tomorrow at the PalaCrisafulli box office.