There Bakery Basket Piacenza is back within the friendly walls for game 4 of the National Serie B playoffs Lnp Old Wild West 2023/24 against Jesi. As in the previous match, Captain Mastroianni leads the charge with 5 points in a row. However, the opponents approach well and put their noses forward. Maglietti scores in penetration, Rasio makes shots in the paint, but Jesi extends to +10 before the point guard steals again and stamps from the arc (11-18). In general he shoots a lot but scores little on both sides, and it is the free throws that allow the Bakery to shorten the deficit at the first short siren. Compared to game 3 it’s another challenge, and you can see it from the greater incisiveness of Jesi, who takes advantage of a couple of red and white defensive sleeps to regain the +10 at 22-32 in the 15th minute. Manenti’s triple and Soviero’s serpentine were not enough to withstand the impact. However, many conclusions from coach Salvemini’s boys are literally spat out by the iron. Maglietti pushes on the gas, Rasio makes a loud statement in the area, Mastroianni hits from the corner, and in the blink of an eye it’s 35 all, with Criconia who stops and goes to the line for the red and white advantage: the game is turned inside out, and inertia for Piacenza who closed the first half with Soviero’s penetration.
Upon returning from the changing rooms, triples from Criconia and El Agbani doubled Piacenza’s lead at the break. The Bakery also defends, dirty the balls and El Agbani inflames the crowd again with another bomb, Mastroianni is no exception as he forces the guests to time out at 51-41 in the 24th minute. The game is also played on nerves, and it couldn’t otherwise be a game 4 of the playoffs. We get to the last minute of the third period when only 2 points have been scored, overall. Manenti invents a pirouette that gives the red and whites +8 at the mermaid. Soviero in penetration and Maglietti from three sign another double-digit lead. Jesi tries to mend things, but Bakery defends like a maniac and again the baskets of the two point guards keep the locals ahead at 65-53 with 3′ to go. With Rossi’s technical whistle and Rasio’s basket full of energy, Piacenza enters the final lap of the clock at 71-58, retouching their maximum advantage.
Bakery Piacenza-Jesi Academy 71-61. Partial scores: 15-18, 39-35, 53-45.
Piacenza: Criconia 5, Bertocco 2, Soviero 10, El Agbani 6, Mastroianni 14, Maglietti 14, Civetta ne, Manenti 6, Molinari ne, Zanetti 4, Ringressi ne, Rasio 11. Coach Salvemini.
Jesi: Varaschin 6, Malatesta ne, Carnevale, Bruno 9, Merletto 11, Valentini 1, Rossi 8, Marulli 13, Tiberti 13, Casagrande. All. Ghizzinardi.
