PROSECCO DOC A.CARRARO IMOCO CONEGLIANO-SAVINO DEL BENE SCANDICCI(
31-29)
Prosecco DOC Imoco: Gabi 22, Zhu 13, Chirichella 7, Fahr 6, De Gennaro, Haak 20, Wolosz 3, Adigwe, Daalderop, Scognamillo, Ewert ne, Sillah ne, Munarini ne, Lubian ne. Coach Santarelli
Savino Del Bene Volley: Skinner 17, Castillo, Ruddins 5, Franklin 1, Ribechi, Bosetti 8, Ognjenovic 1, Graziani 1, Nwakalor 2, Antropova 16, Weitzel 8, , Bechis, Mancini ne, Traballi ne. Coach: Gaspari.
Referees: Piana and Salvati
Attendance: 12,853
Set duration: 34′,30′,30′
Notes: service errors Co 10, Sc 7; aces 0-5, blocks 12-4
MVP: Gabi
Parade of stars for the final that will award the Coppa Italia Frecciarossa, sextet confirmed for coach Santarelli with Wolosz-Haak, Gabi-Zhu, Chirichella-Fahr, libero Moki De Gennaro, coach Gaspari (former) lines up Ongjenovic-Antropova, Bosetti-Skinner, Nwakalor-Weitzel, libero Castillo.
First set with a good start from the blocks of the Panthers (4-0) and immediate time out of Scandicci. Asia Wolosz is inspired and puts on a show, even with her central players, but the Tuscans remain in the wake and approach threatening (9-8). The tie reaches 10 with Antropova who then strikes again for the 10-11 overtaking. We travel paired between high-school shots that snatch applause from the “full house” of the Piedmontese sports hall, La Savino tries to stretch with Skinner’s ace, then repeated by Antropova (13-16), but the Panthers respond and immediately equalize with the former Zhu. The set becomes “dirty”, with long exchanges and many defenses, but also errors that penalize the Panthers, again forced to time out at 19-21. With the blocks of Gabi and Fahr the comeback begins, then Haak scores and the Prosecco DOC Imoco goes back ahead in the final sprint 23-22.
On 23 even Haak misses, but Gabi (great final of the set, 7 points and 2 blocks in the partial!) cancels the set ball well unmarked by captain Wolosz. We go to the advantages, Zhu (6 points in the set) puts a high-class point (27-26), but Skinner (8p in the set) cancels. The fourth set point is canceled by Haak (6p in the set), then the Swede lobs the 30-29, the harbinger of the great block of the Gabi-Fahr pair that closes the hostilities 31-29. What a match!
The Tuscan world champions are not there and immediately try to surprise the Panthers at the start of the second set (2-6), but after the providential time out of coach Santarelli there is De Gennaro to do miracles in the second line, Gabi and Haak to transform the counterattacks and the Panthers in an amen come back ahead with a 5-0 counterbreak (7-6). As in the first set, the stars on the court face each other openly, Bella Haak is now the favorite terminal for the attack of Prosecco DOC Imoco (10 points and 2 blocks in the set, also decisive in defense), with the collaboration of Fahr in the center, but from there Antropova grows blow by blow (13-15) in a challenge between thoroughbred bombers.
At 17-17 an endless exchange rewards the Panthers who close with a block signed by Haak, unleashed, then the Swede replies by raising the shutter again. But Scandicci is a thoroughbred team and does not leave, on the contrary… doubles with Franklin, tactical weapon from the bench: 2 “blocks” of the American and the Tuscans fly ahead 19-22. Zhu in defense and the Haak-Gabi pair in attack reduce the gap, 22-23. The defense no longer drops anything and the final rush of the Panthers (oggin in special in orange version) is impressive. E’ Gabi-show in the final, the Brazilian (8 points, 80% in attack in the set!) continues to hammer all the balls to the ground and the Prosecco DOC Imoco with a final partial of 6-1 also closes an exciting second set: 26-24 and it’s 2-0!
The third set is another beautiful bullfight that drives the thirteen thousand of the Inalpi Arena crazy. As in the previous partials, the balance reigns supreme, at 11-11 coach Gaspari tries the double change with the former Bechis and Ruddins on the court, but he cannot find a way to fly away (17-17). Prosecco DOC Imoco responds blow by blow with Fahr who attacks well in the center, then with Gabi and Zhu always effective from place 4. The wall is also seen again, starring an essential Chirichella for 19-18.
The final is still exciting, Ruddins places important shots and Scandicci is ahead 22-23, but a super Gabi (MVP of the Final Four, top scorer tonight with 22 points and 3 blocks) is not there and draws by force. Skinner makes it 23-24, but it’s still up to the Brazilian superstar to cancel. As in the first two partials we go to the advantages, Skinner takes back the set ball, but this time it is Zhu (13 points) of class to tie (25-25). The Chinese star also invents the 26-25 that launches the Panthers towards victory. Chirichella closes on the first match point with a super block… the Panthers are back!
Thus the first trophy of this season arrives in Turin, the 30th in the history of the yellow-blue club, and the Prosecco DOC can flow again for the eighth Italian Cup, 7th in a row, the Panthers still dictate the law!