Giarre, Sicily – April 25, 2026 – Pallacanestro Giarre clinched a playoff spot in Italy’s Serie C basketball league with an 88-84 road victory over CUS Palermo at the PalaCUS arena, marking a significant milestone for the Sicilian club.
The win, secured on Saturday evening, capped a resilient performance in which Giarre overcame the absence of key player Gabriele Signorino and withstood a late surge from the home team to advance to the postseason.
According to verified match reports, Ruggero Elia led all scorers with 27 points, earning MVP honors for his all-around impact. His scoring was complemented by strong interior play from Mouhamed Kantè, who contributed significantly in the second half with timely baskets and free throws to stabilize Giarre’s lead during critical stretches.
The game began with Giarre asserting early control, opening with a 2-9 run that included a +3 contribution from Vitale. Despite CUS Palermo’s efforts to respond through Alioto and Pirrera, Giarre maintained offensive balance, with Leonardi, Elia, Tongue Zuko, and Kantè combining to end the first quarter ahead 19-24.
In the second quarter, Pirrera hit a long-range shot to give Palermo its first lead at 29-26. Whereas, Giarre answered with precision from the free-throw line (5/6) and a scoring burst from Elia, Maida, and Vitale to retake the advantage. A basket by Elia extended the lead, and Kantè and Tongue Zuko added key points to push the halftime score to 40-51 in favor of the visitors.
The second half saw Giarre expand its margin, with the Elia-Maida duo pushing the lead to 17 points at 42-59. CUS Palermo responded with an 8-0 run sparked by Alioto’s triple and baskets from Pirrera and Bonanno, cutting the deficit to 59-64 and reigniting hopes of a comeback.
Yet Kantè answered with a dominant sequence inside the paint and at the foul line, stretching the lead back to 59-68. The final quarter became a tense exchange, with Pirrera and Alioto pulling Palermo within five points at 65-70. Despite the pressure, Giarre held its composure.
With 22 seconds remaining, Inzerillo hit a three-pointer for Palermo to make it 84-88, but Giarre retained possession and secured the win as time expired.
The victory confirms Pallacanestro Giarre’s place in the Serie C playoffs, continuing their season beyond the regular round. The team will now await playoff pairings and schedule details, which are expected to be released by the Italian Basketball Federation in the coming days.
For continued updates on Pallacanestro Giarre’s playoff journey and other Serie C developments, fans are encouraged to follow official league channels and trusted sports news outlets.
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