The promotion playoffs for the Serie A2 Old Wild West championship have begun and, at the Pala Shark in Trapani, game one of the quarter-finals took place between Trapani Shark, dominator of the regular season and UCC Assigeco Piacenza, eighth in the Red group . Don’t be fooled by the final score of 90-69 with which the Sharks took home this match, because Piacenza sold their lives dearly, even leading for several minutes and remaining attached to the home team until the beginning of the third quarter . Then Trapani’s decisive push, led by a brilliant Mobio (20 points, 4/4 threes and 8 rebounds) on both sides of the court, which allows Trapani to go from 57 all to 79-59 at the end of the third quarter.
At that point the race is downhill and you just need to keep the course straight. In the last quarter Trapani definitively takes control of the game up to +25 (86-61). Five men in double figures for the Sharks. In addition to Mobio, Horton finished with 10 (and 10 rebounds), JD Notae showed fits and starts but finished with 14 points, Marini brought in his usual energy and finished with 11 points and Pullazi finished with 12 and 4/4 points from beyond the arc for him too. Among the long-term guests Skeens (14) was the point of reference, but when Trapani found the countermeasures it was late at night. Good hauls however for Veronesi (15) and Serpilli (13). On Monday we repeat and start again from 0-0.
The match:
The quintets: Trapani starts with Imbrò, Notae, Mian, Alibegovic and Horton, Piacenza responds with Sabatini, Veronesi, Filoni, Serpilli and Skeens
1st quarter: it starts in a tense manner with many errors on both sides. Piacenza immediately scored a 0-4, before a triple from Notae which opened the score for Trapani. Errors and balance. Mian equalizes at 8 but Veronesi responds with 3+1 for Mian’s own rooster. Marini scores the first Shark lead at 15-14 with just over 3 minutes left. Trapani closes the quarter with the energy of Marini and triples from Mobio and Pullazi. We go to the first half at 23-19.
2nd quarter: Trapani starts well and thanks to some errors from the Piacenza line escapes at +7 (29.22). Timeout Piacenza. Notae is seen back on the pitch scoring 5 consecutive points which are worth +10 (37-27). Piacenza doesn’t give up and Serpilli shortens with a triple. Notae again on the counterattack. Minutes of confusion on the pitch and coach Diana calls timeout at +7 (39-32) just over three minutes from the break. Horton nails the +9 but Piacenza doesn’t give up and closes up to -4 at 41-37 with 108″ left in the second quarter. Horton and a triple from Marini push the Emilians back. Horton commits a foul in attack, the last ball is of Piacenza who misses the triple with Veronesi going to the mermaid at 46-40.
3rd quarter: Trapani alternates good moments with others of total blackout. Piacenza doesn’t give up and shortly after mid-quarter the score is 57-55 on a triple by Veronesi with coach Diana forced to time out. Veronesi scores again at 57 before five consecutive points scored by Marini and Mobio. Mobio again first lights up Pala Shark with a sidereal block and then scores two free throws for 64-57. Two more free throws from Mollura extend the lead for the Sharks (9-0). Piacenza crashes against Trapani’s defense and Gentile, again with two free throws, scores +11. Veronesi ends the Sharks’ break with a free throw. Mobio scores, Mollura misses a three, Veronesi earns two free throws with 1″ left. He only scores one and Marini’s prayer goes out at the rim. We go to the last quarter at 70-59.
4th quarter: a triple by Pullazi opens the quarter. Marini blocks Querci, recovers the rebound, is fouled in attack and scores the two free throws which mean +16 at 75-59. Mollura recovers the ball again and scores on the counterattack. Coach Salieri is forced to time out. Piacenza can no longer consistently find Skeens under the basket and struggles from outside. Mobio is a winner from beyond the arc and scores his fourth triple of the evening. Piacenza is in disarray and on yet another triple from Pullazi, coach Salieri calls a timeout. Just over four minutes to go and the scoreboard reads +25 Shark at 86-61. At this point Garauno is in the firm hands of Trapa who only has to limit himself to taking her home without damage. Garauno goes to the archives with the score of 90-69.
Trapani Shark – UCC Assigeco Piacenza 90-69 (23-19, 23-21, 24-19, 20-10)
Trapani Shark: Joseph Yantchoue Mobio 20 (3/6, 4/4), Jd Notae 14 (4/6, 2/5), Rei Pullazi 12 (0/1, 4/4), Pierpaolo Marini 11 (3/4 , 1/1), Chris Horton 10 (5/8, 0/0), Amar Alibegovic 7 (2/5, 1/3), Marco Mollura 6 (2/2, 0/5), Stefano Gentile 4 (1 /2, 0/2), Matteo Imbro 3 (0/1, 1/3), Fabio Mian 3 (0/1, 1/5), Fabrizio Pugliatti 0 (0/1, 0/0)
Free throws: 8 / 9 – Rebounds: 36 11 + 25 (Chris Horton 10) – Assists: 23 (Pierpaolo Marini 6)
UCC Assigeco Piacenza: Giovanni Veronesi 15 (3/6, 2/10), Brady Skeens 14 (6/8, 0/0), Michele Serpilli 13 (1/3, 3/6), Gherardo Sabatini 7 (2/5 , 1/2), Ursulo D’almeida 7 (2/2, 0/0), Lorenzo Querci 6 (0/1, 2/2), Federico Bonacini 4 (2/6, 0/2), Niccolo Filoni 3 (0/2, 1/2), Filippo Gallo 0 (0/1, 0/2), Samuele Angeletti 0 (0/0, 0/0), Umberto Manzo 0 (0/0, 0/0), Matteo Gherardini 0 (0/0, 0/0)
Free throws: 10 / 20 – Rebounds: 32 9 + 23 (Brady Skeens 8) – Assists: 20 (Gherardo Sabatini 8)
