The objective of bringing the positive balance to the victories at PalaCarrara fails for Estra Pistoia Basket which, on the 30th day of LBA, leaves the way in via Fermi to Openjobmetis Varese by 78-96 but completes an eye-opening season in sixth place in the standings, equaling the previous best position obtained in the 2015/16 championship. And nothing would have changed even in the event of victory: the knockout in Reggio and the defeat in Trento would have always given the red and whites sixth place which means going on to face Germani Brescia in the quarter-finals of the scudetto playoffs. An opponent who changed very quickly, given that up until 1″ from the end Milan was losing to Cremona and would have slipped to third place. We start with race 1 on Sunday 12 May at the “PalaLeonessa” as well as race 2 scheduled for 14 May, we will return to via Fermi for race 3 on the 17th, the possible race 4 will take place on Sunday 19 May and possible “beautiful” in Brescia on May 21st.
FIRST HALF The start of the match was particularly tense for Estra who, despite the sold out and the great enthusiasm on and off the pitch, did not immediately register the feeling for the match. Ogbeide commits two fouls in a few minutes, Mannion is already inspired (7 points in 10′) and after Varnado’s 14-16 in the 7th minute, the guests extend their lead with an 8-0 break which sends coach Brienza into a rage (14-24) reaching 19-26 in the 10th minute.
In the second quarter, nervousness reigned: technical fouls abounded (to Saccaggi and the bench) after Estra had regained contact at 26-28 in the 12th minute only to then suffer a 0-11 from Varese who found very high shooting percentages high reaching up to 36-51 scored by Moretti from the foul line. Estra tries to close the gap, making a lot of mistakes, arriving at halftime down 42-54.
SECOND HALF The second half also begins under an unlucky star: despite the -10 from an inspired Varnado (46-56), the guests score a set that will then be decisive with Spencer (even 23 rebounds for him), McDermott and an irrepressible Moretti reaching up to the 50-73 in the 27th minute. Estra tries to react but is unable to recover the main road and at the penultimate siren the score reads 57-77.
The shock for the red and whites didn’t come in the last period when the guests lost Mannion, sent off for two technical charges in the space of 2 minutes and pennies: in attack there are Hawkins, Del Chiaro and Varnado who try to have their say but at most they get to a gap of 14 points (74-88 with Pistoia’s 16 from the line) in the 37th minute. McDermott’s bomb of 76-93 is needed to definitively close the score.
Now head only and only to the playoffs: it is a dream achieved for Estra, who started in August with the sole objective of survival, and will now compete for access to the semi-final against Germani Brescia.
THE ESTRA PT – OPENJOBMETIS SCORESHEET GOES 78-96
PARTIAL (19-26, 42-54, 57-77)
EXTRA PT: Willis 7, Della Rosa, Moore 12, Metsla ne, Saccaggi 3, Del Chiaro 10, Varnado 18, Wheatle 8, Hawkins 13, Ogbeide 7. Coaches: Brienza
OPENJOBMETIS GOES: Gilmore ne, Mannion 18, Ulaneo ne, Spencer 6, Woldetensae 6, Moretti 30, McDermott 21, Besson 1, Okeke 3, Brown 11. Coach: Bialaszewski
REFEREES: Lanzarini, Bettini, Galasso
NOTE: Spectators: 3860 (2222 subscribers, 1638 paying). Out for 5 fouls: Varnado (PT). Technical foul: Saccaggi (PT) at 16′, bench PT at 18’30”, Mannion (V) at 31′ and 33′.
