Brescia is one win away from securing its third national champion title after defeating Pro Recco 12:10 at home in the first match of the 106th Italian League.
This season, Brescia and Pro Recco have faced each other in the Serie A1 finals for the 14th time. Brescia won the title only twice in the previous 13 finals – in 2003 and 2021.
Tommaso Gianazza opened the scoring for Brescia with a power-play goal in the 4th minute. Pro Recco managed to get on the scoreboard just 56 seconds before the first break when Francesco Condemi converted a penalty shot. After a low-scoring first quarter, the second quarter saw a flood of goals. Brescia established a 3:1 lead by the middle of the period. Aaron Younger brought Pro Recco to 2:3, Brescia quickly responded with two more goals—one from Dolce on a penalty shot and another from Guerratto—extending its lead to 5:2 by the 14th minute. The hosts maintained a 3-goal difference until halftime, finishing the half at 6:3.
In the third quarter, Recco reduced the gap to two goals three times– 4:6, 5:7, 6:8, but Brescia replied shortly after each goal and a 3-goal lead. Still, the hosts had no answer after Francesco Di Fulvio beat the buzzer and scored from a 6 on 5 just six seconds from time, so Recco trailed by two goals – 7:9 before the final quarter.
Shortly after the last break, the visitors came very close, after Aaron Younger scored to make it 8:9. But, then came Brescia’s crucial 3:0 rush in 02:31 minutes. Balzarini scored two back-to-back goals, and Gianazza added one. Brescia had a 12:8 advantage in the 28th minute. Recco needed a big comeback, but it didn’t make it. The visitors halved the distance. Two minutes before the final buzzer, Gonzalo Echenique found the net for 10:12. Everything was still open, but despite several attempts, no additional goals were scored, and Brescia took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series. Brescia’s Balzarini and Recco’s Younger were the top scorers, each with four goals.
The next game is scheduled for May 16 on Recco’s pool.
2025 Italian Championships
Final (best of three), first game
Brescia – Pro Recco 12:10 (1:1, 5:2, 3:4, 3:3)
Brescia: Balzarini 4, Guerrato 2, Gianazza 2, Ferrero 2, Dolce 2.
Pro Recco: Younger 4, Condemi 2, Di Fulvio 1, Hallock 1 Echenique 1, Havenkampf 1.
3rd-place playoffs (best of three), firrst game
Savona – Trieste 15:9 (5:1, 4:3, 1:3, 5:2)
