Eurobasket.com All-Italian A1 Awards 2008-09 - May 12, 2009 Huge season for American forward Megan Mahoney. It was definitely her top season and not too many people expected her to be that good. Last two seasons she was probably the most undevalued player in Eurobasket.com awards announced at the end of season. But in her third season in Italian league, she won probably everything she could leading Cras taranto to regular season championship and then repeating championship title in the play-offs. She also helped Taranto record their biggest success also on European stage, where they made all way to Eurocup finals, where they were defeated by Galatasaray. Mahoney definitely deserved the Player of the Year Award. She had a big help of other Cras taranto Players: Syzu Batkovic (2nd team), Ilisaine David (Honorable Mention), Elodie Godin (All-Defensive Team and best player of the Finals) and Italian international Michelle Greco.
Player of the Year: Megan Mahoney (183-F-83) of Taranto Guard of the Year: Francesca Zara (177-G-76) of Parma Forward of the Year: Megan Mahoney of Taranto Center of the Year: Vanessa Hayden-Johnson (194-C-82) of Venezia Bosman Player of the Year: Nicole Antibe (187-C/F-74) of Schio Import Player of the Year: Megan Mahoney of Taranto Domestic Player of the Year: Laura Macchi (187-F-79) of Schio Defensive Player of the Year: Vanessa Hayden-Johnson of Venezia Coach of the Year: Roberto Ricchini of Taranto 1st Team Francesca Zara of Parma Adriana Moises Pinto (170-G-78) of Faenza Megan Mahoney of Taranto Iciss Tillis (194-F-81) of San Giovanni Vanessa Hayden-Johnson of Venezia 2nd Team Laura Macchi of Schio Suzy Batkovic (193-C-80) of Taranto Brooke Smith (191-F/C-84) of Comense Nicole Antibe of Schio Simona Ballardini (183-F-81) of Venezia Honorable Mention Florina Pascalau (193-C-82) of Priolo Ilisaine David (191-F/C-77) of Taranto Laura Summerton (191-C-83) of Parma Daliborka Vilipic (196-C-75) of Parma Milka Bjelica (193-F-81) of Faenza Maja Erkic (182-G/F-85) of Faenza Marija Eric (164-G-83) of Napoli Doneeka Hodges (175-G-82) of Umbertide Tamecka Dixon (176-G-75) of Pozzuoli Katryna Gaither (191-C-75) of Livorno Jami Montagnino (173-G-85) of Ribera All-Domestic Players Team Laura Macchi of Schio Francesca Zara of Parma Simona Ballardini of Venezia Michelle Greco (176-G-80) of Taranto Raffaella Masciadri (185-F-80) of Schio All-Imports Team Iciss Tillis of San Giovanni Megan Mahoney of Taranto Vanessa Hayden-Johnson of Venezia Adriana Moises Pinto of Faenza Brooke Smith of Comense All-Bosmans Team Nicole Antibe of Schio Suzy Batkovic of Taranto (she has both Australian and Croatian citizenships) Milka Bjelica of Faenza Maja Erkic of Faenza Florina Pascalau of Priolo All-Defensive Team Elodie Godin (190-C-85) of Taranto Vanessa Hayden-Johnson of Venezia Brooke Smith of Comense Marija Eric of Napoli Tamecka Dixon of Pozzuoli Cras Taranto wins the championship title! - May 11, 2009 Umana Reyer - Taranto 52-56 Cras Taranto is the new champion of Italy! In the fourth game of the big final Taranto outsmarted Umana Reyer in Venice 56-52 ending the final series with 3-1. Elodie Godin (190-C-85), Suzy Batkovic (193-C-80) and Megan Mahoney (183-F-83, agency: LBM Management, college: Kansas St.) stepped up for the new champions with 12 points each. Godin grabbed 10 rebounds beside that registering double-double. Her country mate Audrey Sauret Gillespie (179-G/F-76) also had important role netting 9 pts. On the other side, the hosts got 11 points and 6 rebounds from Daliborka Jokic (185-F-81). Simona Ballardini (183-F-81) also drained 11, while Vanessa Hayden-Johnson (194-C-82, college: Florida) contributed with 9 points. As a reminder, Cras Taranto reached the big final in EuroCup (Galatasaray won it) and was the regular season champion in Serie A1 with 21-5 record. Faenza won Coppa Italia at home During the week-end (Saturday 7th to Sunday 8th) PalaMokador in Faenza hosted the Italian Cup Final Four. The last act was played by home team and Parma in front of a record attendance (4.300 persons) for a female basketball game in Italy. The day before, in the first semis, Parma (Francesca Zara (177-G-76) 16, Summerton 13, Paparazzo 8) resolved 66-63 a tough match against Serie A1-leader Taranto (Elodie Godin (190-C-85) 16, Mahoney 14, Batkovic 12), while in the second semis Faenza (Adriana Moises-Pinto 17, Maja Erkic (182-G/F-85) 15, Bjelica 13, Zampella 10) outscored 63-44 a struggling Venezia (Cirone 11, Essence Carson (183-G-86, college: Rutgers) 9, Sottana 9). The final had no story: Faenza took and early advantage and kept playing hard untill 5 minutes to go; Parma rallied a little bit in the final minutes, but couldnt keep closer than 12 points at the buzzer. For Faenza its the second trophy of the history, after first 2007 Coppa Italia. Maja Erkic was named MVP of the Final Four. Final Boxscore: Lavezzini Parma - Club Atletico Faenza 51 - 63 (14-13, 24-35, 36-54) LAVEZZINI PARMA: Narviciute G. dnp, Magaddino E. , Paparazzo E. , Franchini M. 5 , Zara F. 13 , Vilipic D. 4 , Summerton L. 13 , Screen J. 16 , Manzini L. dnp, Tomova M.. Coach Scanzani Maurizio CLUB ATLETICO FAENZA: Moises P. 15 , Erkic M. 20 , Modica F. dnp, Stakneviciene E. 6 , Santucci L. 3 , Bandini E. , Bjelica M. 13 , Zampella A. 2 , Alexander M. 4 , Morsiani L.. Coach Rossi Paolo |
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