Great start of the two weeks dedicated to Prato basketball at the ‘Yoghi Giuntoni’ playground of the Serraglio. The tournament of senior basketball districts is won once again by the yellow of Santo Stefano, who in the final are able to impose themselves with the result of 64-45 against the very young team of the Azzurri of Santa Maria, raising the trophy to the sky for the sixth time. As for the Junior Rioni Tournament, the Reds of Santa Trinita prevailed with the result of 21-18 over the Verdi of San Marco in the final. But let’s go in order.
The week started with two days (Sunday and Monday) of 3 against 3 challenges with over 30 teams at the start of the Fip competition, between seniors and young people. Last Wednesday the evening dedicated to basketball ‘in pink’, with a triangular match between Female Basketball Florence, Female Basketball Montecatini and a mix of players from Prato, who in the end won both challenges with their opponents, thus winning the tournament . Then it was the turn of the awarding of female excellences of Prato sport. And then again, last Thursday, the start of the actual Tournament of the Districts. In the first match of the seniors, the Yellow prevail against the Reds of Santa Trinita, while in the second match the Azzurri overcome the resistance of the Greens. Last Friday the evening dedicated to the finals with the Verdi di San Marco winning 58-56 over the Rossi di Santa Trinita, scoring at the last second with a good penetration by Aquili, obtaining the third final place and leaving the wooden medal to the opponents. In the final, as mentioned, the yellow ones relied on the greatest experience of their team, dragged by the usual Magni, Zita and Smecca and taking home yet another trophy. As for the award for the best scorer, there was an ex aequo between Razzoli and Magni, who both scored 41 points in the two races. Sarti dei Gialli was awarded as the best young player, while the three-point shooting match was won by Pacini degli Azzurri, who in a windy evening brought home a good 17 out of 25.
Finally, the best player of the tournament was Manfredini degli Azzurri who delighted the spectators with some really excellent quality plays. Tonight we start again with the Metropolitan Trophy, aka Salerni Trophy, among the selections of Florence, Prato, Pistoia and Montecatini. The semi-final matches will see Prato against Florence and Montecatini against Pistoia on the pitch. Tomorrow evening a maxi basketball match between an Over Prato formation and a selection of the Italian Over 50 national team will be scheduled, preceded by a wheelchair basketball performance. Wednesday will be the turn of the final for the third and fourth place and then the final of the Metropolitan Tournament in quick succession.
L.M.
