Basketball, Final Eight of the Italian Cup: Milan and Venice in the semi-finals

The Final Eight of the 2024 Italian Cup begins in the best way for Milan, which sweeps Trento 80-57. Reyer also did well, beating Pistoia 86-71 driven by the excellent performance of Rayjon Tucker: 23 points and 8 rebounds. Venice and Milan will meet on Saturday 17 February in the semi-finals. Tomorrow (15 February) the last two quarter-finals will be played: Virtus-Reggio Emilia (6pm) and Brescia-Napoli (8.45pm).

MILAN-TRENTO 80-57

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The match starts off aggressive: Olimpia dominates in rebounding (13-6), but Trento responds with its shooters, including the former Alviti. 20-17 at 10′ for Messina’s men. In the second quarter EA7 realizes the escape they failed to achieve in the first. At the long break it was 39-23 for Milan who attacked well in transition and forced Dolomiti Energia’s turnovers (11 for Galbiati’s boys). Trento is unable to adapt to the opponent’s physicality, pays for Grazulis out of the game in the first half and does not score for 10′ (between the second and third period) before a basket by Biligha. Milan hammers in attack, attempts to shuffle Trento’s cards in defense with the zone and systematic changes are useless. At the third buzzer it’s 65-35, then Milan manages the advantage.

Milan: Shields and Voigtmann 14, Napier 9.

Trent: Hubb 12, 9 Forray, 6 Baldwin.

VENICE-PISTOIA 86-71

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Second victory in four days for Reyer against Estra and guaranteed passage to the semi-finals. After an uninspiring start to the match, Estra broke free first, finding concreteness in Ogbeide’s physicality. Venezia instead gets into rhythm with the defense, which forces opponent turnovers and leads to easy points on the counterattack. The match, however, proceeds in the name of balance, both teams shoot with revisable percentages – especially from the arc – and the score struggles to take off. Reyer was slightly better, closing the first half ahead 36-34 thanks to spectacular plays near Tucker’s rim. In the second half Wiltjer takes the lead: the Canadian winger takes the place of the lackluster Simms and scores the decisive extension for Reyer. Pistoia tries to stay afloat by clinging to Moore’s individual solutions, but concedes too much under the basket: Venezia has no problems maintaining a double-digit lead until the final siren.

Venice: Tucker 23, Kabengele 13, Wiltjer 11.

Pistoia: Moore 20, Ogbeide 14, Varnado 13.