Darren Skuse posted on December 02, 2008 10:55
Another huge weekend for S.Stefano. After our longest road trip of the season we managed to take down Porto Torres in a game we dominated from start to finish 72-58.
It all started on a wet and cold Friday afternoon where we boarded the bus for Civitavecchia a port on the other side of Rome. This first section of the trip took 3.5hrs with news coming through that we were in for a rough ride that night on the ferry crossing due to high seas and strong winds. Once on the boat which we had dinner and tried to stay up and play cards. I lasted the first few hand then decided it was time to hit the sack as I could feel me dinner rising as the swell did! Once in the cabin chewing on some travel calm tablets I fell asleep for the 7hour crossing.
Landing in Sardinia bright and early Saturday morning it was nice dawn drive to the hotel we were resting at before the game. The landscape we passed on the way to the hotel was very similar to back home, with gum trees, shrubland and similar mountains. I would really like to go back and have a good look around. We got few hours rest in the hotel then lunch and then to the court to get ready for the clash between us and Porto Torres.
Porto Torres has 2 Amercian imports playing for them. Jay Baker and Derrick Lee. I played with these guys when I was in America a 2 years ago at the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater. So it was good to catch up before the game but once the first whistle was blown there was definetely no love lost out on court!
We took control of the game in the first few minutes, and did not lose the lead from there. Although Porto Torres stuck with us the gap not stringing out by more than 10-15 points they did not have the speed or strength to reel us back in. By half time there starting 5 was in foul trouble due to our pressure and moving the ball up court at speed they had nothing to stop has but foul. We were in good stead and ready to carry on the job after the half time break.
Our outside shooters who were a bit quiet in the first half lit up as soon as we hit the court really stretching the lead out and allowing us to keep the pressure on Porto Torres. The last 2 minutes of the game we were able to make good contributions from the bench and give some rest of the starting 5.
To there credit Porto Torres did not stop fighting but in this bout S.Stefano came out on top.
After the game it was directly to the bus not even time for a shower! We had a boat to catch, driving back to the Port and boarding the boat we had dinner and retired to our cabins for shower and bed on what was a much calmer crossing than the previous night. Arriving back at Civitavechhia at 6am we got back into our team bus and headed home to Porto Potenza Picena which was another long and slow drive after snow on the road outside Roma.
A good weekend and looking forward to our next 2 games then home for Christmas. This weekend we have Calgary at home.