Livorno, 6 May 2024 – Libertas slips at home against Faenza, in game 2 of the playoff quarter-finals for A2. Faenza prevails at PalaMacchia 62-67, equalizing the series, after the clear defeat in game 1. Game 2 the Blacks they won it for the episodes in favor, and not out of manifest superiority. Libertas has sold its life dearly, but is forced to give way. The series now moves to PalaCattani, with game 3 scheduled for Friday evening at 8.30pm
STARTING FIVE LL: Williams, Ricci, Allinei, Fratto, Fantoni (all. Andreazza)
FA: Siberna, Papa, Pastore, Begarin, Poletti (all. Garelli)
Referees: Gai from Rome and Tognazzo from Padua.
1QT (9-17)
First points of the match for Libertas, with Amos Ricci that resists contact and goes to the rim (2-0). Faenza, on the other hand, only broke free from free throws after 3 blank laps, with a 1/2 from Poletti (2-1). First field goal that comes from Begarin’s cut (2-3). Vico enters the field and shows all his talent placing the ball against the glass after a good penetration (2-5). Ricci responds on the turnaround with a jumper (4-5). But Papa scores the first triple of the evening for the Blacks in the following action (4-8). First triple for Libertas which arrives at the end of the half with Bargnesi’s extra pass for Saccaggi who does not forgive from the corner undisturbed (9-12). Begarin, however, appears very inspired tonight and scores the triple from the dribble to make it 9-17.
2QT (36-25)
Allinei’s triple at the start of the half was fundamental to stay firmly in the game (12-19). Greg is joined by Luca Tozzi, for the triple of minus -4 (15-19). Plus Bargnesi’s in the 13th minute, the deficit reduced to a single point (18-19). Garelli can’t help but spend a time out. Blame the partial (open) of 9-0. Coming out, Faenza loses concreteness in attack and concedes a foul on Allinei: 2/2 from the line, and a partial score that rises to 11-0 (20-18). Poletti takes care of breaking it with the net-only bomb of the new counter-overtaking (20-21). On the tipping, Saccaggi it is deadly from the center of the arch for the immediate counter-return from three (23-21). Saccaggi again, wonderful basket freeing himself from the blocks, despite the defenders’ hands in his face (25-22). Williams is deadly from the perimeter at the end of the quarter (28-23). Maximum LL advantage of the evening, so far (+5). Ricci, Ricci, Ricci, uncontainable under the boards, his penetration is lethal (31-23). The quarter ends in style, with Fratto’s magic on the siren: a prayer from mid range, despite the initial loss of the handle, moreover with his back to the basket. A winning spin that sends his Libertas 11 down at halftime (36-25).
3QT (42-54)
Siberna opens the third quarter with two points (36-27). Vico is unforgiving from two points (36-29), the same guard was the protagonist of a contact from which Amos Ricci was the worst of it, leaving the field due to a serious injury to his ankle. Easy triple by Williams which gives oxygen to the LL (39-29). Begarin responds with three points and keeps Faenza glued to the game (39-34). Ricci returns to the field after the blow suffered, but in the throw-in the Blacks still don’t forgive with Begarin from the perimeter (39-37). The connection comes in the 27th minute, on the Vico-Poletti axis (39-39). The overtaking comes from the line with Papa, who also takes advantage of Fratto’s fourth foul (39-41). Saccaggi, in the most difficult moment he pulls out the 3-point rabbit from his hat for the new draw (41-41). Libertas who at the end of the quarter got nervous due to difficult referee calls – it must be said – and Faenza takes advantage of it: killer partial of 1-13 in the space of two minutes and the Amaranths find themselves 12 down (42-54).
4QT (62-67)
Pope increases his team’s lead to +14 at the start of the fourth quarter (42-56). Bargnesi’s mid-range basket is pure oxygen after entering the 33rd minute (47-56). But Petrucci di Faenza’s triple is a cold shower for LL (47-59). Begarin scores a very difficult basket in the middle of the half, the deficit now becomes heavy for LL, Andreazza can only call the time out (47-61). Tozzi breaks the 50-point barrier for Libertas with a triple of -11 (50-61). The 2/2 of Amos Ricci reduces the disadvantage to single digits, when there are 4 minutes left on the clock (52-61). But Poletti again scores a triple that takes LL back to the Underworld (52-64). Libertas did everything they could to stay glued to the game, with Tozzi shooting a triple to make it -8 (57-65). Coming out of a timeout, Williams penetrates and lays the ball down to make it 59-65, with 1’53” on the clock. But there’s nothing to be done, Libertas has to give way to Faenza, who ties the series at 1-1.
Francesco Ingardia
