L’Ekipe orizzonte torna sul trono batte Trieste e vince la Coppa Italia

On the day of the mimosa and International Women's Day, the smile of Ekipe Orizzonte Catania also blooms in Naples. In the “Scandone” pool, the Catanian team takes center stage and raises the Coppa Italia once again, winning the 15th edition of the trophy with a clear and authoritative success. In the final, the Italian champions defeat 11-7 against Pallanuoto Trieste and reclaim the title for the sixth time, ending a two-year drought.

The start is intense, with a high pace from the very first moments and excellent defensive phases from both sides: the first opportunity in a six-on-five situation slips away for both teams. Ekipe Orizzonte breaks the deadlock after 5 minutes with Halligan and doubles the lead with Meggiato (2-0). The Catanian team defends with great solidity and extends the lead with Marletta and Bettini to 5-1, while the Triestines try to come back to 5-3, but Gagliardi, Viacava, and Tabani bring Catania back to a +5 lead (8-3). Trieste reacts to 8-5, but at that point, Marletta and Bettini seal the deal in the final quarter, definitively stifling Trieste's comeback.

The team coached by Martina Miceli thus completes a perfect journey in the Final Six in Naples. The Catanian path began in the quarter-finals with a convincing 15-9 against Plebiscito Padova, before overcoming Rapallo in the semi-finals with a score of 14-11. In the final, however, came the test of maturity: greater offensive continuity, defensive solidity, and the ability to direct the match immediately. Trieste, in its first final in the competition, plays with courage and deserves the honor of arms, but Ekipe Orizzonte takes control already in the first period and manages the lead with clarity until the final whistle. Among the standout players are Dafne Bettini and Claudia Marletta, both scoring a hat trick, crucial in building and consolidating the Catanian margin.

The success also has a particular emotional significance for the Catanian team. "We are happy with this success - declares the Catanian coach Martina Miceli - we owed it to our patron Giorgio Bartolini, who has always supported us." A heartfelt reference to the club president, who passed away last February 9. "Now our focus is on the championship: our opponents will be even more aggressive, but we will be ready - she added - we did well, but we won't get carried away, we know we haven't done much, the journey is still long, and there is regret for the Champions Cup, we could have done better there. Now we enjoy the Coppa Italia, we defeated Trieste, which is a strong team, they have formidable foreigners, we had concentrated so much on Rapallo and Rome, but congratulations to Trieste, which we are sure will be among the contenders for the scudetto." Among the brightest in the water, Claudia Marletta emphasizes the group's reaction after the European difficulties. "I returned to my comfort zone and it showed. We worked hard with the coaches and the team to erase the disappointment of the Champions League elimination and return to the top. Honor to Trieste, which played a great final. We have a burden as favorites and we want to confirm ourselves in the championship as well, where there is incredible balance. This is a prestigious Cup and should never be underestimated."

The scorecard

Ekipe Orizzonte 11

Pallanuoto Trieste 7

Ekipe Orizzonte Catania: Condorelli, Halligan 1, Meggiato 1, Viacava 1, Sbruzzi, Bettini 3, Longo, Tabani 1, Sevenich, Marletta 3, Cassarà, Leone, Scibona, Gagliardi 1. Coach: Miceli.

Pallanuoto Trieste: Sparano, G. Zizza, De March 1, Petrucci, Gant, Cergol 1, Klatowski 2, Colletta, Marussi, Mcdowall 2, Battu 1, Allen, Mancinelli, Abbondanza. Coach: Zizza.

Referees: Calabrò and Romolini.

Periods: 2-0, 3-2, 4-3, 2-2.

Notes: fouled out Allen (T), De March (T), and Gant (T) in the third period, Gant (T) and Meggiato (O) in the fourth period. Power plays: Ekipe Orizzonte 7/14 + 3 penalties and Pallanuoto Trieste 5/14.