The newly promoted team, after a difficult start to the championship, has won four of the last five (Bendzius 23). Trento, still without Mawugbe, is tied at 10 points. The fight for qualification for the Italian Cup heats up
Trento-Udine 75-82
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A win and 7 defeats to open the season, then 4 successes in the last 5. Udine didn’t just get back up. She is resurrected. With a great defensive game – by no means the 3rd best team in the championship in terms of points conceded – they beat Trento, tied them to 10 points in the standings, exited the relegation zone and ended 2025 putting themselves back in the group that dreams of the Final 8. They did so, once again, in the name of Semaj Christon. Since arriving in Friuli only one fall (in Trapani) and marching like a great team for a newly promoted team that has returned to Serie A with the aim of staying there for a long time. Cincinnati’s point guard (3/14 shooting but still 10+7+6 assists) is not the best on the pitch, in the victory against Energia Dolomiti still without Mawugbe: the MVP is in fact Bendzius, perfect in the 1st half with 5/5 shooting with 3 triples. But when the former Tortona, Pistoia, Brescia and Cremona player is on the pitch, the boys coached by coach Vertemati play great, see the +16 plus minus at the end and also at the end of the 1st half with which Udine ends up ahead 45-31, thanks to the hosts’ poor aim (12/40 shooting, 3/16 from the arc). In the second half, Trento clings to Aldridge (11+11 rebounds) and Bayehe, 12 points in the 3rd quarter (he averages 15 since he joined the starting five): 10-0 run and the match reopened (51-58 after 30′). Then Steward wakes up, scores 8 of his 13 points in the last period, partial 13-3 and the home team at -1 (71-72 with 2’20 left). Udine, however, resists the return of its opponents, led by Spencer (12 rebounds) and Bendzius (4 points in a row in the final), returning to 78-73, thanks to a bad mistake by Battle. He also misses the throw-in at 75-80 7” from the siren. Mekowulu crushes and for the Trentino team it is the 3rd knockout in the last 4.
Trento: Bayehe 18, Battle e Steward 13.
Udine: Bendzius 23, Christon 10, four players at 8.
