San Salvatore Selargius, Sardinia – The Nuova Icom Selargius continued its impressive run in Italy’s Serie A2 Girone A women’s basketball league, securing a fourth consecutive victory with a decisive 58-47 win over Normatempo Italia Pallacanestro Torino on Sunday. The win solidifies their position in the playoff picture as the regular season progresses.
The giallonere (yellow-blacks), as the Selargius team is known, demonstrated resilience and a strong team effort, overcoming a slow start and an injury to key player Juhasz to control the game’s later stages. Aijanen and Ceccarelli led the scoring for Selargius, contributing 16 and 19 points respectively, proving pivotal in securing the win.
Early Exchanges and Torino’s First-Quarter Push
Selargius started brightly, racing to a 5-0 lead in the opening minutes. However, Torino quickly responded, establishing their presence on the boards and finding their rhythm from beyond the arc through Penz and Heriaud. Torino closed the first quarter with a 20-15 advantage, capitalizing on Selargius’ early turnovers and establishing a physical presence inside.
Selargius Adjusts, Takes Control in the Second
A strategic shift off the bench proved crucial for coach Maslarinos’ team. Changes in rhythm and a renewed focus on offensive execution allowed Selargius to regain momentum. The contributions of Pinna and the team’s interior players helped build a two-possession lead by halftime, with the score standing at 33-27 in favor of the hosts. This adjustment proved vital in stemming Torino’s early momentum and establishing a more favorable tempo for Selargius.
Juhasz Injury Impacts Game Flow, Ceccarelli and Aijanen Step Up
The third quarter brought a setback for Selargius as Juhasz suffered an ankle injury, forcing her to the sidelines for a significant portion of the second half. Despite the loss of a key player, Selargius continued to press, with Ceccarelli hitting crucial shots from three-point range and Aijanen dominating in the paint. They extended their lead to 15 points, but Torino refused to yield.
Heriaud sparked a 11-0 run for Torino, narrowing the gap to just one point (44-43) at the end of the third quarter. This surge from Heriaud injected renewed energy into the visitors and threatened to derail Selargius’ momentum. The game entered a critical phase, poised for a tense final period.
Dominant Fourth Quarter Seals the Victory for Selargius
Rather than falter under pressure, Selargius demonstrated composure and defensive grit. They tightened their interior defense, providing timely help and forcing Torino into difficult shots. Exploiting Torino’s double-teams, Selargius moved the ball effectively and attacked the basket with purpose. A strong finish saw them outscore Torino 14-4 in the final quarter, closing out the game with a comfortable 58-47 victory. The ability to limit Torino to just four points in the final frame was a testament to Selargius’ defensive commitment.
“We managed to reverse the point differential – said assistant coach Nicola Massa – against a team with high-level players, holding them to 47 points. And that means the girls did an incredible job on their side. The girls were united in difficult moments, continued to follow the game plan and especially in defense they did a great job. Everyone tried to do something important for themselves and for their teammates: today they were all excellent. Aijanen’s impact? Besides being a great player, she is a great person – he specifies – she entered quietly and on the field as she gave us more depth in attack and a great hand in defense where This proves not easy to attack her. Now we are more relaxed, four wins, but we are already thinking about Tuesday when we will return to work.”
Key Stats and Player Performances
Silvia Ceccarelli led all scorers with 19 points for Nuova Icom Selargius, while Aijanen added 16. For Normatempo Italia Pallacanestro Torino, Heriaud was the standout performer with 18 points, followed by Penz with 10. The final box score read: Nuova Icom San Salvatore Selargius 58 – Normatempo Italia Pallacanestro Torino 47.
Nuova Icom Selargius: D’Angelo 4, Mura 4, Berrad 3, Ingenito 2, Pinna 4, Ceccarelli 19, Aijanen 16, Juhasz 6.
Normatempo Italia Pallacanestro Torino: Albano, Chukwu 11, Heriaud 18, Penz 10, Cordola 4, Bucchieri 2.
Parziali (Quarter Scores): 15-20; 18-7; 11-16; 14-4.
This victory marks the fourth consecutive win for Nuova Icom Selargius, bolstering their playoff aspirations in the competitive Serie A2 Girone A. The team will return to practice on Tuesday to prepare for their next challenge.
