TURIN Here they are, the play-offs. And here is Pallacanestro Trieste which immediately turns the series with Torino in its favour. The success at PalaRuffini by 76-83 is one of those heavy ones because it gives a rush of adrenaline and self-esteem and makes it clear that in times of need, those with more class and skill are better to have on their side. If the scoreboard crowns Eli Brooks, the decisive minutes above all have the clear signatures of Michele Ruzzier and Ariel Filloy. Essential, cynical, lucid, no tremors.
Let’s be clear, perfection is not of this world, much less of the red and white one and it would be a colossal own goal to think of having pocketed these quarters. In the game of percentages, however, as of yesterday evening Trieste has a 60% chance of going on to challenge Forlì in the semi-final. Tomorrow evening race 2 again at PalaRuffini, on Friday we return home and there will be a good crowd. Meanwhile in Turin there are more than a dozen warm fans of the Curva Nord, applauded by the team at the end.
Surprise in the starting quintet: Candussi and Vildera immediately inside, with Reyes as a small forward who forces Vencato, protagonist of the match in the watch phase, to push himself in defence. On the other hand, Ciani immediately risks De Vico. The first red and white advantage comes thanks to the bombs of Brooks, Reyes and Candussi (4-9). Trieste insists, lucid, without forcing, lethal at 6.75. And after four minutes the lead is already 12 points (7-19) with Ciani forced to time out. First changes, Filloy for Brooks and Ferrero for Candussi. The three-point percentage drops, but Trieste remains on track while Ciani has to play the Pepe card, in doubt until the day before. Under the scoreboards, Vildera, the defensive pivot, is a totem that terrifies the home team. Bossi’s triple at the siren closes the first quarter with Trieste ahead 18-28, a puzzle that has so far been unsolvable for Turin.
Decisive pressing from Reale Mutua at the start of the second set, with Schina chasing Bossi and a game at double the speed of the previous quarter. Reyes seems the most taken aback. And the Piedmontese break is one of those that make a small break: 10-0, red and white breakaway cancelled. He starts again from scratch. Another triple from Pepe and Torino overtakes. 13-0, with shock on the faces of the two foreigners from Trieste. Ah, in the meantime Vildera is left on the bench…He is put back on the floor at 33-32 in the 14th minute with Deangeli to raise the competitive intensity. With a bomb from Brooks, Trieste takes the lead again (36-39 17′). Torino – which so far has Kennedy in line with the number on his shirt, zero – with the brilliance of Schina extends the lead and goes to half-time at 45-41. Second quarter half: 27-13. Trieste played two distinct games in the first twenty minutes: ruthless from three, impeccable in the first, convoluted, confused (and with 1 out of 8 from 6.75) the next.
Return from the locker rooms clouded, with Torino at +7 (50-43). Reyes is less caged in the system, left a little more free to invent in attack but once again if he fires the weapon of the three-point shot blanks the offensive potential is halved. 59-50 in the middle of the quarter, with Christian playing the card of the two senators Filloy and Ferrero for Ruzzier and Vildera. Brooks is largely the most lively at this juncture. Third foul by Candussi which forces Christian to throw in Vildera. Reyes is also out, Trieste now with three little ones (Bossi, Brooks, Filloy). With Brooks the red and whites get back to just one point (60-59). Filloy’s three-pointer on the buzzer sends Trieste – who have regained their share of defense – into the final quarter with a 62-64 lead, crowning a 14-3 lead in five minutes.
Ruzzier returns, Brooks out, but the inertia is now all on the red and white side. Vildera, two free throws from Reyes – back to playing as a “4” – and a defense in the paint that is in play-off mode with the right toughness (62-68 with six minutes to go). But it’s too early to claim victory. Two lost balls, the Piedmontese are grateful. 69-71 at 36′. The momentum comes from the line, first with Ruzzier and then with Brooks while Torino, in the rush to try to make a comeback, shoots poorly from three. Six points to manage with three minutes to go (69-75).
Excellent defense by Ruzzier on Pepe forced to roll the ball out giving a golden throw, Filloy tries to close it from 6.75 but the mocking ball spins on the iron and ends up in the hands of Poser to trigger the Turin counterattack. 71-75 at 38′. Ruzzier’s invention when entering, piercing a defense that was hiding the other red and whites. It’s a shame that in the following possession Reyes doesn’t understand Ruzz’s intentions, losing the most banal of balls. Vencato shoots from three and once again the quickest to throw himself on the ball is Ruzzier. Filloy’s triple scores 1-0 for Trieste.
