This is the race towards the title: Virtus (1)-Trento (8), Brescia (2)-Trieste (7), Milan (3)-Reggio Emilia (6) Reyer Venezia (4)-Tortona (5)
The Serie A regular season ends with the victory of Brescia (which finishes second) 92-71 over Sassari. Cremona also did well in Trieste (89-94), thus saying goodbye to the top championship with a victory given that the transfer of the title to Rome will be official in the next few days. Napoli’s season also ended with a good success (98-71) against Udine. Trento achieves the feat, beats Olimpia and takes eighth place in Openjobmetis, who fell at the Virtus Arena. In the preview of the playoff match, Tortona beats Venice thanks to an extraordinary 20-point Hubb. Leaders Bologna makes no concessions and defeats Varese 104-85 (Alston 19). Treviso, already safe, celebrated their fourth victory in a row in front of their fans, knocking out Reggio Emilia which finished sixth (Croswell 16).
This is the playoff scoreboard: Virtus (1)-Trento (8), Brescia (2)-Trieste (7), Milan (3)-Reggio Emilia (6) Reyer Venezia (4)-Tortona (5)
Bologna-Varese 104-85
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Certain of first place in the standings, Virtus makes no concessions: they knock out Varese by prevailing at the Virtus Arena 104-85. The Lombards therefore have to give up the playoffs given Trento’s victory against Milan, despite Nkamhoua in a season-high format (30 points) and a positive second round, with 7 wins and 7 defeats. Bologna does not lose concentration even when Niang is forced off due to a hand injury (he will return to the field later), in fact he takes off already at the end of the first quarter (27-17). Varese tries to come back in the second half and gets back to -4 with two triples in a row from Iroegbu, who then misses the possible -1 from the arc. So the black Vs receive energy from Hackett and Jallow and close the third quarter ahead again 78-69, taking advantage of an Openjobmetis that loses Taze Moore, who left the field injured in the first half. Bologna reaches their maximum lead, +16, 6′ from the end and Varese no longer has any. Good signs from Pajola, who recovered a few weeks ago and appeared ready for the playoffs (12 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in 22′), for Olidata 11 players on the scoresheet. Last match in Italy for Librizzi destined for the NCAA: the 24-year-old born in Varese has played 142 official matches with his city’s shirt: in six Lba seasons very respectable statistics, with 51% from 2 and 40% from 3. Bologna: Alston 19, Pajola 12, Diouf 10
Varese: Nkamhoua 30, Iroegbu 19, Librizzi 13
Treviso-Reggio Emilia 78-77
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Treviso closes the season on a high note, defeating the best team in the championship, Reggio Emilia, in front of its fans, forced to finish the regular season in sixth place: they will meet Milan in the first round of the playoffs. Final score 78-77 for the Venetians with a block 2” from the siren on Barford by Pinkins, MVP of the match with 12 points, 9 rebounds and 19 rating. Big celebration at the Palaverde for the hosts, who until a month ago could see salvation through binoculars: the four victories in a row with which the Venetians closed the championship were decisive. Nutribullet which forces Reggio to just 11 points in the first quarter, closing ahead 38-28 at halftime. Unahotels’ reaction manifests itself in the last 10′: partial 6-12 and recovery up to -5. However, Reggio Emilia’s coach Dimitris Pritftis loses his temper and gets sent off after a foul called on Rossato on Croswell. The hosts are back at +9 and the game is over? Nope. Reggio Emilia feels the shock of the coach and they get back to -1 at the end. Barford has the penetrating overtaking shot, Pinkins disagrees. Treviso celebrates, Reggio a little less given that Olimpia is waiting for them. However, if today there is someone capable of putting Milan in difficulty, perhaps it is the Emilian team. Treviso: Croswell 16, Macura 14, Pinkins 12
Reggio Emilia: Barford 20, Rossato 17, Caupain 16
TRENTO-MILAN 84-74
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What a season finale for L’Aquila! The final sprint against Olimpia, combined with Varese’s defeat in Bologna, means that Cancellieri’s group overtakes Openjobmetis: eighth place goes to Trento, which will participate in the playoffs. The performance from the arc of both teams was decisive: that of L’Aquila was excellent (12/25 from 3), that of EA7 was disastrous (6/26 from long range). The home team controlled the match for almost the entire match and broke away in the second half of the third quarter, when the break of 17-3 (66-53) occurred which was never mended by Poeta’s team. It’s a great team performance for L’Aquila, with five players in double figures (Jogela, Mawugbe, Aldridge, Bayehe, Battle). In Milan, however, Brooks’ 18 points were not enough.
Trent: Bayehe 14, Aldridge 13, Mawubgbe 12
Milan: Brooks 18, Bolmaro 12, LeDay 11
VENICE-TORTONA 75-78
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Despite a final part of the championship played below their capabilities, in the end Bertram held out in fifth place, beating Reyer in what is the appetizer for the future playoff clash. Venice will maintain the home factor, even if it could be less decisive than expected: Reyer hasn’t won at Taliercio since March 14th. Tortona controls for most of the first half, but in the third quarter the Piedmontese attack suffers an abrupt stop, producing just 6 points (3/9 from 2, 0/5 from 3) which causes Spahija’s team to escape. The hot hand of Vital and Hubb, combined with the physicality of Olejniczak, will be decisive in the final to overturn the result: Reyer disappears from the arc in the fourth period (2/11 from 3) and misses the opportunity to score a psychologically important victory in view of future direct clashes.
Venice: Cole 13, Wiltjer 12, Parks 11
Tortona: Vital 20, Olejniczak and Hubb 12
BRESCIA-SASSARI 92-71
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After a balanced start, Brescia split the match with excellent Nunn and Ivanovic. The attack of Cotelli’s team runs very well, especially in the second period (5/8 from 3, 7/8 from 2). Sassari struggles to match the dynamism of Germani, who digs the furrow (30-15 in the second half) and goes into the break ahead 57-31. Despite a surge of pride from Dinamo, decimated by absences, (14-0 in the set), with 11 points in 5′ from Buie, Brescia maintains control, returning to +20 and controlling the result until the 40th minute. 22 points from Rivers were decisive.
Brescia: Rivers 22, Nunn 15, Della Valle 13
Sassari: Dark 20, Midnight, Mcglynn 14, Beliauskas 12
NAPLES-UDINE 98-71
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Udine does not capitalize on an offensively difficult start for Napoli. Repesa’s team is in the hands of Totè, who also scores six points in a row in the second quarter. Udine suffers from the long double proposed by the Neapolitans, who also hit with the Doyle-Toté axis. APU experiences its moment of prolonged breakdown in attack and suffers a 13-4 run, but shakes itself off with 5 points from Calzavara. 42-36 for the hosts in the 20th minute. In the second half Guerri runs away, with baskets from Whaley, Caruso, Doyle and a triple from El Amin (71-58 in the 30th minute). The hosts, with the excellent Faggian, Caruso and Doyle (79-62 at 32′) found continuity in attack. In fact the match ends here, Udine is no longer able to return and Napoli spreads.
Naples: El Amin 20, Faggian 17, Toté 15
Udine: Dawkins 18, Mekowulu 15, Hickey, Bendzius 7
TRIESTE-CREMONA 89-94
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The balance of the first half was broken in the final minutes. Vanoli escapes thanks to baskets from Galli, Grant, Burns and above all from a precious Battle, who also makes himself felt on the rebound. At 20′ it’s 44-53 for the guests. After a third quarter in which Cremona maintained control of the match, Trieste came back in the final quarter, with an 8-0 run. Ramsey, Uthoff and Ross scored (80-85 in the 37th minute). At the end, Trieste missed the opportunity to get back to -2 with Toscano-Anderson. Willis closes the speech with a triple.
Trieste: Ramsey 30, Ross 19, Bannan 10
Cremona: Anigbogu 19, Willis, Battle 18, Grant 15
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