Pro Recco clinches 29th national championship

 By: Tim Hartog  National Leagues, Italian Serie A1
http://www.waterpoloworld.com/News/tabid/169/ArticleId/8426/Pro-Recco-clinches-29th-national-championship.aspx
By beating Brescia 11-7 at home on Saturday Pro Recco have clinched their 29th, and an unprecendented 10th consecutive, Italian championship in team history. This team therewith surpasses the previous record set by Recco who between 1964 and 1972 won 9 straight league titles. But once again it didn't came easy in this finals series. Brescia knew of their 'win-or-go-home' situation and came out firing quickly gaining a 0-3 lead. It was then that Recco awakened and started a little comeback. The score got levelled at 4-4 and from the 6-6 point onwards the home team got in the lead and decided things in the 4th quarter to complete the series sweep. Top scorers for the champions on Saturday where Dusko Pijetlovic, Pietro Figoli, Andrea Fondelli, Matteo Aicardi and Niccolo' Gitto who scored 2 goals each. Valerio Rizzo led all scorers netting 3 for Brescia who had to settle for the runner-up position once again.

Meanwhile in the series for 3rd place BPM Sport Management topped Acquachiara 5-8 in game 2 to take the bronze medal while CC Napoli edged Bogliasco 9-8 in their series game 2 to finish 5th and more importantly take the last available spot for the European club competition now being eligible for Euro Cup action next season.

Italian championship
Play-offs

Finals (best-of-5)

Game 3

Saturday 16-05:

PRO RECCO N. E PN vs. A.N.BRESCIA 11-7 (2-3, 4-2, 2-1, 3-1)
PRO RECCO N. E PN: Tempesti S., Pijetlovic 2, Prlainovic A. 1, Figlioli P. 2, Giorgetti A., Felugo M., Giacoppo M., F. Di Fulvio, Figari N., Fondelli A. 2, Aicardi M. 2, Gitto N. 2, Pastorino G.

A.N.BRESCIA: Del Lungo M., Bruni L., Presciutti C. 1, Pagani F., Molina G. 1, Rizzo V. 3, Giorgi D., Nora A., Presciutti N., Bodegas M. 2, Fiorentini D., Napolitano C., Dian B.

Pro Recco wins series 3-0.

Game 2

Wednesday 13-05:

A.N.BRESCIA vs. PRO RECCO N. E PN 12-13 (5-3, 1-3, 1-2, 3-2; penalties: 2-3)
A.N.BRESCIA: Del Lungo M., Bruni L., Presciutti C., Pagani F., Molina G. 4, Rizzo V. 3, Giorgi D., Nora A. 3, Presciutti N., Bodegas M., Fiorentini D., Napolitano C., Dian B.

PRO RECCO N. E PN: Tempesti S., Lapenna F., Prlainovic A. 1, Figlioli P. 1, Giorgetti A. 1, Felugo M. 2, Giacoppo M. 1, Di Fulvio 1, Pijetlovic D. 1, Fondelli A. 2, Aicardi M., Gitto N., Pastorino G.

Game 1 

Sunday 10-05:

PRO RECCO N. E PN vs. A.N.BRESCIA 8-4 (1-0, 3-2, 2-0, 2-2)
PRO RECCO N. E PN: Tempesti S., Lapenna F., Prlainovic A. 1, Figlioli P. 1, Giorgetti A. 2, Felugo M. 1, Giacoppo M., Di Fulvio F., Pijetlovic, Fondelli A., Aicardi M. (pictured) 2, Gitto N. 1, Pastorino G.

A.N.BRESCIA: Del Lungo M., Bruni L., Presciutti C., Pagani F., Molina G. 3, Rizzo V., Giorgi D., Nora A., Presciutti N., Bodegas M. 1, Fiorentini D. , Napolitano C., Dian B.