Black evening for Stosa in Pavia, where the rossoblu fell 83-58 at the end of a match which saw the home team take off in the third quarter and never look back.
Pavia got off to a strong start and scored the first set, taking the lead 11-3. However, it only takes a moment for Virtus to light the fuse: three consecutive recovered balls lead to as many baskets in transition, and Lombardo’s triple gives them their first lead at 11-12. In the last part of the quarter the score stalled, with the teams struggling to find the basket. Apuzzo’s triple in the final set the score at 19-17 at the end of the first half.
In the second quarter Stosa started by fielding a good defense, but the attack stagnated and Pavia took advantage of this to maintain the lead. The rossoblu resist the home team’s attempts to extend themselves and stay afloat with Dal Maso’s baskets, but Pavia’s hot hand from 6.75 starts to hurt and Spatti’s triple closes the second quarter giving his team the + 10 (39-29) with which the teams return to the locker rooms.
In the third quarter the hoped-for reaction did not arrive for the rossoblu, who instead suffered a shower of triples that brought Pavia to +20. Virtus navigates through the many offensive difficulties while Pavia extends and closes the third quarter at 65-40. In the last quarter the home team maintained the advantage, while Stosa was unable to close the gap to attempt a comeback. It ends 83-58.
SCOTTI PAVIA RICE – STOSA VIRTUS SIENA 83-58 (19-17; 39-29; 65-40)
PAVIA: Banin, Ferri 19, Apuzzo 13, Stonkus 7, Hidalgo 13, Invernizzi, Spatti 10, Gravaghi 12, Ferretti 2, Pesenato 7, Ciocca. All. Crystals
VIRTUS: Berardi 3, Bolis 6, Bartoletti 4, Dal Maso 17, Laffitte 6, Olleia, Costantini 6, Calvellini 6, Diminic 5, Lombardo 5. Team Ceccarelli/Braccagni
