Nutribullet Treviso Basket conquers the Itelyum Arena in Varese, taking an important step towards salvation, keeping their destiny in their own hands for a thriller championship final against Tortona. Team victory for Frank Vitucci’s men with five men in double figures led by Osvaldas Olisevicius’ 23. Bowman’s triple in the final seconds was decisive, sealing the score at 93-98, before Harrison’s perfect trip to the line. Treviso is there, now the last effort will be needed on Sunday 5 May against Bertram Tortona.
Coach Bialaszewski fields Mannion, Moretti, McDermott, Brown and Spencer, while coach Vitucci responds with Robinson, Bowman, Harrison, Olisevicius and Paulicap. Nutribullet gets off to a flying start with Harrison’s class and Paulicap’s energy: four points from number 7, two offensive rebounds from number 33, TVB flies to 0-6. Mannion unlocks Openjobmetis from the arc, but Paulicap takes no prisoners between film library shots and rebounds in attack. Moretti makes it 8-12 from a long shot, Nutribullet accelerates again: Bowman scores a triple after being fouled and raises an alley-oop for Paulicap, Osi dictates the law in the post and from the arc, TVB tries to escape (12-27) . Varese reacts with two dunks from Brown and Spencer, Bowman tries to dampen the home team’s enthusiasm with a triple, and Treviso goes into the first mini-interval ahead 19-31.
Olisevicius opens the period with two baskets, Varese responds with a triple and a three-point play by McDermott, returning to within a double-digit deficit (27-35). Paulicap responds with another tap-in from an offensive rebound, Besson finds another basket with a foul, Osi from a standstill places the bomb for the new +10 TVB. Mannion plays the charge, Harrison and Allen have different ideas, and with a triple each they seal the 32-46 Nutribullet. McDermott is on fire, but Harrison is as well, and the penetration of the TVB guard forces coach Bialaszewski to stop the game at 35-48. The timeout works, because a burst from Mannion makes it 40-48 Varese. The Red Mamba becomes a factor, Allen takes the lead for coach Vitucci’s team, keeping TVB above double figures with 7 consecutive personal points (42-56). It’s once again Mannion’s turn to carry his teammates on his shoulders, with five points in a row that set the score at halftime at 49-58.
Osi opens the second half with the free throw, Spencer responds in the paint; Mannion finds another triple, but Bowman’s contested basket keeps Nutribullet above double figures, at least until Moretti’s trip to the line (56-64). Varese accelerates, McDermott with the bomb brings the hosts to -4, but a sensational block by Bowman on Spencer’s dunk attempt keeps two possessions between the two teams, Osi’s 2/2 from the line is worth +6. The match gets nervous, with Bowman and McDermott responding blow for blow. Besson’s layup makes it 67-69. McDermott and Besson fail to make the overtaking triple, Allen on the line brings a hint of tranquility to TVB, the recovery with a basket by Captain Zanelli seals the 67-73. Vitucci is forced to call Harrison, Bowman and Paulicap to the bench, all three with four fouls, and in the chaos of Masnago it is Allen who takes on the role of the protagonist. Gilmore with the offensive rebound scores the 74-77 with which the teams enter the last ten minutes of the game.
After two minutes without a basket, Allen’s bomb unlocks the final period and Gilmore responds immediately with a dunk (76-80). Olisevicius silences the Itelyum Arena on the siren, Besson revives it with the same coin. The Midnight tap-in puts two full possessions back between the two teams, Spencer scores the Varese -4 with a dunk. Isolated baskets by Robinson and Bowman keep Varese at a distance despite Spencer’s response in the paint. Harrison scores a triple to make it 85-93, but Mannion isn’t up for it and scores -6 in penetration, Moretti’s triple puts everything back into play (90-93). Scoop is glacial from the line, but McDermott coming out of the blocks scores yet another personal triple, and with 50 seconds left the scoreboard says 93-95. The man of providence is Ky Bowman, with a triple at the end of the 24″ that closes the game. Mannion attempts the dunk, Harrison puts the final word from the line, placing three possessions away. Finishes 95-100 for the Nutribullet.
