Coach Francesco Nanni praised his young roster’s maturity and praised a crucial 7-0 second-half run after Forlì secured an 80-73 victory against Sella Cento at the Palafiera, forlitoday.it reported. The home win showcased contributions across ten rotation players who logged more than ten minutes each on the floor.
Early Dominance Met With Mental Resilience
Forlì established a commanding tempo early in the contest, building an 18-point advantage before Cento mounted a determined comeback. Nanni credited the visiting side in his post-match press conference for displaying exceptional mental fortitude to claw back from the early deficit.
“I want to first give credit to Cento, who showed great mental strength in reacting to a very difficult start for them, during which we managed to express high-quality play and excellent three-point shooting percentages,” Nanni said, according to forlitoday.it reporting.
Youth Movement Delivers the Decisive Run
The turning point materialized in the second half when the margin shrank to a single point. Nanni turned to his bench, where Tommaso Pinza, Mattia Ceccato, and Giacomo Zanetti orchestrated a decisive response.
A 7-0 scoring burst spearheaded by Pinza, Ceccato, and Zanetti restored breathing room for the hosts. Nanni noted that testing players in high-pressure moments remains a core developmental objective for the coaching staff.
Perkovic Debut Highlights Roster Depth
Newcomer Toni Perkovic made an immediate impact in his club debut, pacing the offense with 17 points before 2,980 spectators at a packed Palafiera. Nanni expressed gratitude to club leadership, the Foundation, Gigi Garelli, and Alessandro Bonotti for expediting roster maneuvers following an injury to Carey.
“Sometimes speed makes the difference between winning and losing games, and tonight Toni’s approach showed all the goodness of that operation,” Nanni said.
Defensive Anchor Secures the Interior
While Perkovic carried the scoring load, Raphael Gaspardo anchored the defensive effort. Gaspardo finished with five points, seven rebounds, and four steals while limiting Cento’s Davis to a 6-of-15 shooting night alongside six turnovers.
“He scored only five points, but he grabbed seven rebounds, recovered four balls, and was effectively the man of the match for how he limited Davis,” Nanni said regarding Gaspardo’s defensive assignment.
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