Happy Casa Brindisi achieved success against Umana Reyer Venezia but, given Treviso’s victory in Varese by 5 points, they were arithmetically relegated to Serie A2. After two initial triples from Sneed, Spissu combines effectively with center Kabengele and the guests also manage to stem the energy plays of Washington and Laszewski (10-8). Subsequently, the orogranata push on the accelerator pedal and place a break of 2-14 with Spissu hitting three baskets (well constructed by the countryside) from the arc and with the winning raids in transition by Casarin and Tucker which force coach Sakota at timeout (12-22).
At the end of the quarter, however, Happy Casa made up for it by scoring a 7-0 counterbreak thanks to a super dunk from Bayehe and long-range hits from a wild Sneed (19-22 after 10′). The home team’s excellent moment also continued in the second quarter, as Morris’ bombs and Sneed’s energy continued the local break to 17-2, before Parks from the low post (together with a good Wiltjer) shake Reyer with the free throw to make it 31-25.
However, Brindisi has a completely different energy than the Orogranatas and takes advantage of it by scoring at the rim with Bartley, Laquintana and Bayehe, before a bomb from Lombardi responds to a half-hook from Brooks for 40-29. Tucker then takes care of it with a couple of winning runs to give the Venetians the right push and Kabengele also writes -5 from the corner, although Bayehe then seals the opening 20 minutes of the match from the line at 45-38.
At the start of the second half, Tucker and Spissu carry Umana on their shoulders, Bayehe, however, is a factor on the other side of the pitch from near and far and a triple from Heidegger allows Venezia to remain “only” at -6 (51- 45). Even though Sneed is the one to carry the gold and silver medals on his shoulders, Spissu presses further on the accelerator pedal and combines with a concrete Tessitori and a wild Heidegger for the three-point play that puts the balance back on 59-57. At the end of the quarter, Morris unleashes himself again from distance and his two consecutive bombs accompany Sneed in the blue and white’s new lead (67-57 after 30′).
Brindisi then finds fortune from Lombardi and a concrete Laszewski in the paint but, after reaching the double-digit advantage, Tucker and Kabengele put the orogranata back on track, bringing them back to a single possession distance; in the final minutes (and with Brindisi already aware of their relegation, given the end of the match in Treviso) Washington and Sneed did not tremble with the clock stopped and the latest errors from Heidegger and Wiltjer forced Reyer to surrender. It ends 84-80.
Source: Lega Basket
