MENS SANA BASKET-VIRTUS SIENA 66-64 ( 15-23; 35-43; 56-56)

MENS SANA BASKET: Totaro, Anichini, Nasello 2, Rumachella, Tognazzi, Neri 2, Cometti 5, Del Cucina  4, Tealdi 9, Antonini 8, Landi 11, Cappelletti 25. Cch. Magro

VIRTUS SIENA: Ceccatelli, D’angelo, Marchi, Furfaro 4, Ricci 1, Cuccarese 7, Oliva 17, Reali 9, Sanges 11, Mugnaini 4, Martino 11, Angiolini. Cch. Vezzosi

Referees: Battista and Fabiani

Mens Sana Basket’s Under 17 Eccellenzas took their category’s derby by defeating Virtus Siena 66-64, thus ending the regional phase in first place and accessing Interzone, May 11th/13th in Rome. It was a difficult start for the green-and-whites, without their main big man, Riccardo Bartolozzi. Injured during the Memorial Barilà. Despite trailing by eight the first half, the showed they could play equal to the away team. After halftime, coach Magro’s boys came back much more aggressive and cautious, especially on defense (21 points conceded as opposed to 43 first half), and ended third quarter tied and stronger under the net. The final quarter proved decisive, as the teams alternate control of the game, thanks in part to an excellent group performance by even the young athletes added to the team.

Coach Magro commented, “We played a game in a very unique atmosphere, as a derby generally does. As a coach, I’m proud to lead a team that’s grown so much during the season, and that’s gone and still going through a tough time because of some significant injuries. But the guys were ready and united in yesterday’s game. There’s little time to celebrate because the season isn’t over. Yesterday’s win gives us a week to work in the gym since we don’t have to play the tiebreaker to make Interzone because we directly earned the right to participate in Interzone, which is going to be really tough.”