Romeo Sorrento won the 22nd Raffaella De Simone Memorial with a 3-1 victory over their friends from Rinascita Lagonegro.
The venue was the Agnone sports hall, a city dear to our captain Stefano Patriarca. The atmosphere on and off the court made it a truly emotional evening.
Coach Nicola Esposito’s team played a well-played match, especially in blocking: 15 (4 in the first set, 6 in the third) against the Lucanians’ 6.
Coach Nicola Esposito rested Vicente Parraguirre, fresh from the World Championships and newly arrived in Sorrento, and deployed the setter/opposite pair Calogero Tulone and Andrea Baldi, middle blockers Stefano Patriarca and Francesco Fortes, hammers Alberto Pol and Andrea Malavasi, and libero Davide Russo. For Rinascita Lagonegro, Coach Waldo Kantor selected the following players: Sperotto/Cantagalli, Arasomwan/Tognoni, Andonovic/Raffaelli, and libero Fortunato.
President Carlomagno’s team started well, 4-1, but Sorrento quickly responded, turning the tables to a 7-4 lead. The gap between the two teams widened, thanks in part to Sorrento’s four blocks, while the Lucanians were unable to stop the opposition’s attacks (67% 12/18). The set ended 25-14. In the second set, Lagonegro responded. From 10-10, Kantor’s players increased their reception percentages and also closed the set with three blocks (25-18). The third set was a closely contested one, and Sorrento won it in the final (25-21), with the six blocks proving decisive.
