The Serie A2 playoffs have finally begun and today we had the first three matches, all in the silver bracket, with already epic and heart-pounding matches like between Verona and Urania Milano, which went to overtime, or like matches between Trapani and Piacenza which understand the fate of the series. Let’s take a recap of these three match-1s that were played this evening.
TRAPANI SHARK – UCC ASSIGECO PIACENZA 90-69
Initially, the match was very balanced with Trapani needing to get into rhythm and Piacenza already hot which seemed to keep the Sicilians, with the first half actually ending at 46-40. Upon returning, Piacenza seems even more determined to play than the first half of the match and with a 7-0 run equalizes the score at 57-57 with 4:30 left in the third period, but Trapani finally wakes up and with the help of Stefano Gentile and Mobio managed to regain the margin with a partial of 11-0 and then closed the game in the final period, allowing Piacenza to score only 12 points in the following 14 and a half minutes from the equalizing basket (partial of 33-12 ). Mobio was the MVP of the match with 20 points and 8 rebounds, Marini was also decisive for Trapani with 11 points and 6 assists. Skeens from Piacenza saves himself, 14 points and 8 rebounds.
TEZENIS VERONA – WEGREENIT URANIA MILAN 116-125
A crazy and beautiful match that embodies the true essence of this sport: neither of the two teams wants to give up and lose this match 1, fighting with all their strength to win. Verona starts well and takes the lead in the first quarter, 32-23, but Milan is not there and so begins to grind out points and with a final run of 11-0 goes to rest with a score of 52-53. The second half has the same script as the first: Verona takes the lead in the third quarter and goes to 80-70, but then in the fourth quarter Urania decides to come back once again and with 1:30 left to go they reach 94 -93. A Veronese triple by Stefanelli seems to extinguish the hopes but four free throws scored by Milano, 4/4, take the game to extra time, 97-97. In overtime it’s another battle: Verona with a 7-0 run takes the lead to 107-104 with 1:15 left, but Urania once again takes over this match and with a triple from Severini 30 seconds from the end end the tie again, 109-109 and second overtime. Urania started very well in the second overtime and immediately took a clear lead, 109-116, but Verona found the last bit of energy for a desperate recovery, 116-119. After 40 seconds of no change in the score, Milan decides to take home this match 1 and with another 6/6 on free throws they win 116-125. Buva is the best of Verona with 41 points and 10 rebounds, while the driving force of Urania Milano is Aristide Landi, 32 points and 9 rebounds.
REAL SEBASTIANI RIETI – RIMINI 74-73
Another exciting match, Rimini starts very well and at the end of the first quarter the result says 13-21, Rieti however comes back and comes back minute after minute, even if the match remains very balanced, reaching the end of the third quarter at 43-44. In the final period Rieti started better and began to extend the lead for the first time in the match, going 73-68 with 9 seconds to go, but in 3 seconds Rimini managed to score, 73-70. Piccin’s 1/2 from the line secures the result but Rimini throws its heart over the obstacle and with one second left Grande scores the triple to make it 74-73 which, however, is useless. Game-1 goes to Rieti after a great battle, the best is Jazz Johnson with 21 points and 5 assists, for Rimini the MVP is Grande, 28 points.
PLAYOFF SCOREBOARD, RESULTS AND STATISTICS
