Comes the third consecutive victory for Vismederi Costone on the field of Juve Pontedera. What, at least on paper, should have been a simple game is instead a challenge with a thousand faces. A fought first quarter is followed by the two central fractions with very strong yellow-green hues with the guests also reaching +17. Right in the final of the third quarter, after Leonardo Mencherini’s exit due to injury, a moment of Sienese défaillance follows, which reveals the side of attempts to return to the Pisan team. In the last quarter, the home team tries everything, even returning under the double figure of disadvantage, but the Sienese have the merit of never panicking and managing a very important result. Now for the Costone there is not even time to enjoy the victory, since in just 4 days another delicate trip to the Montale field is expected.
The start of the match is very excited, with both teams finding the basket easily. Meucci signs a momentary 7-5, but Bruttini replies and restores parity. To assert himself, after a few moments is Ondo Mengue who first places the points of the +2 Costonian and then becomes the protagonist of a great defense that gives him an additional two points on the counterattack. The biancoblù team remains stuck, with Ceccarelli and Meucci hitting from the bow. The fourth ends at 18-19, after captain Bruttini’s basket in penetration, which is answered by the easy support of Dabo.
After the first short break, the Siena team tries to be towed by Scekic who first trims a block to Reins, then scores the points of 20-24 and then serves a splendid assist for Bruttini. The first hint of escape, however, is signed by Ondo Mengue who writes +7. The hosts manage to mend again until Lemmi’s -2. With 5 ‘to play, it is Niccolò Mencherini who returns to score by fixing the score at 27-32, forcing coach Ormeni to time out. Out of the minute is Scekic’s bomb that stretches to +8. Juve responds with 4 points in the series by Santini that bring the game back to 32-35. At this juncture it is Ondo Mengue again who takes the chair, bringing the Costone back to +7. At the very end, a first shock arrives, with the baskets of Silveira and Niccolò Mencherini, who close the first half of the match at 34-45.
Costone opens the second half as he had closed the first: Bruttini and Mencherini’s baskets lead to 13 points away. To further increase the gap we think Silveira who with his back to basket movement writes 36-51. With 5 ‘on the clock, Scekic sets the gap between the two teams at 16. Pontedera tries to react once again, but Ondo Mengue’s triple pushes the hosts back again. Now the Sienese try to freeze the match but, with just over 1 ‘to play, Leonardo Mencherini goes to the ground holding his right leg and is forced to leave. Pontedera takes advantage of Costone’s moment of hesitation and, thanks to a couple of individual actions by Mancini, gets back to 50-59. To send the teams to the last short interval is the 2/2 from the line by Ricci for the 50-61.
The last fraction opens with the splendid penetration basket by Ondo Mengue that brings the Costone to +13. On the other side of the pitch, Pontedera tries to hurt the guests, but the referees see that Dabo has infringed his footsteps. The Costone, for its part, extends further with Ondo Mengue and Niccolò Mencherini, hoisting itself up to 52-71. Just when the result seemed to have been won, the hosts tried to return at the last minute, scoring 9 points and returning to 61-73 with 4’08 ”to play. The yellow-green team, however, starts playing with the time trial and capitalizes with Silveira. On the contrary, Juve Pontedera cannot afford the luxury of thinking too much in attack and are forced to take quick action that bears fruit: Lemmi and Mancini bring Pontedera back to -9 with less than 120 ”to play. In the most difficult moment, when Juve seems to be able to reopen the match definitively, it is Niccolò Mencherini who takes the chestnuts out of the fire and retrieve an important ball. Coach Fattorini does not want to risk anything and calls time-out, from which Ondo Mengue realizes the points of the new +11 that close the challenge. In the final Mancini misses a triple, while Bruttini realizes the basket of the stirrup. Thus ends 69-81 at the PalaZoli di Pontedera.
PONTEDERA: Ndiaye, Redini 4, Meucci 6, Santini 5, Mancini 12, Sestini 9, Dabo 14, Lemmi 15, Ferrati ne, Bilous, Sane ne, Minteh 4.
Coach: Massimiliano Ormeni.
COSTONE SIENA: Ricci 5, Scekic 9, Mencherini L. 2, Tognazzi ne, Picchi, Ceccarelli 5, Mencherini N. 11, Silveira 10, Piattelli ne, Bassetti ne, Ondo Mengue 20, Bruttini L. 19.
Coach: David Fattorini.
