First defeat of the season at home for Trapani defeated by Varese 88-95 at the end of a match that the guests always led from the start. Trapani still in emergency due to the well-known events, without Coach Latini on the bench, but after closing the third set at -10, in the last quarter he managed to recover thanks to Arcidiacono’s streak, but missed the equalizing basket with Cappelletti. The point-to-point final rewarded Varese who secured the result with Alviti’s free throws from the free throw line. At the end there was also a near fight with the coach in Moore and the expulsion of Cappelletti. Trapani loses their unbeaten home record after almost 7 months and has to postpone access to the final eight of the Italian Cup for the time being. Top scorers for Trapani Hurt with 17 points, followed by Arcidiacono with 15. For Varese 17 points +11 assists for Iroegbu, 17 points also for Librizzi, 16 for Alviti.
Trapani Shark – Openjobmetis Varese 88-95
Trapani: Eboua 7, Cappelletti 3, Notae 6, Ford 8, Arcidiacono 15, Rossato 7, Pugliatti 2, Petrucelli 13, Sanogo 10, Patti Ne, Hurt 17.
Steurt 2, Alviti 16, Moore 10, Villa Ne, Assii 6, Nkamoua 12, Iroegbu 17, Librizzi 17, Refrouary 15, Bergamin Ne, Freeman. Other. Kastris
Referees: Perciavalle, Quarta, Catani
Notes: spectators 4,328
Partials: 19-22; 26-25; 19-27; 24-21
FIRST QUARTER
Varese started better and thanks to triples from Iroegbu and Alviti they went up 10 (3-13) in the 3rd minute. Trapani tries to react with Hurt’s triple from the corner, increasing the defensive intensity. The 10-0 run brings Trapani back to a draw (13-13) thanks to Eboua’s good rebounding streak. Moore’s Alley-oop restores energy to Varese who, with Librizzi’s triple, closes the first set ahead +3 (19-22).
SECOND QUARTER
Librizzi strikes again from beyond the arc and Varese, taking advantage of Trapani’s shooting errors, tries again to escape with Assui’s triple (21-30). Sanogo tries to shake up Pala Shark with a dunk and a tap-in that bring Trapani back under (27-32) despite JD Notae’s wet powder in attack. Varese continues to strike with Moore but Trapani finds energy from Cappelletti’s lucky triple and Hurt’s dunk to charge and get back to -1 (38-39). Varese loses fluidity in attack and Trapani finds the first advantage (40-39) with two more free throws from Hurt but in the end Librizzi’s talent comes out and he scores 5 in a row to bring the Lombards back ahead (45-47) at the long break.
THIRD QUARTER
Varese approaches the start of the third quarter very well with a 7-0 lead that forces Trapani to chase (45-54). Di Renfro’s triple brings the guests’ advantage to double figures with the guests gaining confidence and with Nkamhoua’s triple they fly up to +13 (49-62). Trapani looks like a boxer in the corner with Alviti strikes again from beyond the arc. A ball recovered by Notae with the basket in transition of the same grenade elf tries to shake Trapani, however forced to suffer the greater physicality of Varese who closes the last set +10 (64-74).
FOURTH ROOM
Rossato’s triple gives Trapani confidence back to -5 (69-74) but a couple of turnovers from the Granata and Iroegbu’s triple bring Varese back to +10. Trapani tries to resist with Arcidiacono who brings it back to -4 (75-79) with 6 consecutive points which still give the Granata hope in the 34th minute but Librizzi’s triple (75-82) pushes the Sicilians back. Arcidiacono still keeps Trapani alive but Stewart scores the first two points of the evening at the most important moment. It was decided in the sprint: Petrucelli’s triple brought the Sharks back to -3 (81-84) but Alviti’s basket from the offensive rebound with the additional free throw brought Varese back to +6 (81-87) less than 2′ from the end. Hurt and Petrucelli’s baskets reopen the match, igniting the last minute (86-87) but Iroegbu’s underhand basket at -33″ brings Varese back to +3 (86-89). Cappelletti misses the equalizer triple and Petrucelli only makes 1 of 2 from the line (87-89). On the systematic foul, Alviti makes no mistake from the line with 6″ to go, handing the victory to Varese. Some sparks in the final with the coach to Moore and the expulsion of Cappelletti before Alviti’s free throws which set the final score at 88-95 which rewards Varese despite Trapani’s courage. Top scorers for Trapani Hurt with 17 points, followed by Arcidiacono with 15. For Varese 17 points +11 assists for Iroegbu, 17 points also for Librizzi, 16 for Alviti.
