Brescia. In the last match of the regular season, Germani diligently carries out practice with Happy Casa Brindisi, already relegated, at PalaLeonessa, but as a result of Milan’s last-second victory against Cremona it remains in third place in the standings, behind Bologna and the same Olympia. Brescia will play the first play-off match against Pistoia (a best-of-five match, the first two at home).
The match always remained under the control of the home team and coach Alessandro Magro, forced to keep Petrucelli on the bench as a precaution, rotated the entire roster, giving space to those who have played less in the championship and also granting precious minutes to the young players. In front of him was a team on the eve of breaking ranks, therefore lacking motivation and with the players psychologically already intent on thinking about their competitive future next season, but who carried out their work with dignity until the end.
The match
Nicola Akele opened the match with five points in a row, imitated by Miro Bilan: the two immediately took Germani to 10-2. Brindisi recovered with Laszewski, Sneed and Bartley, but thanks to Della Valle, Akele again (16 for him at the end) and Massinburg, Brescia got back to 20-12. A 0-6 run scored for the guests by Riisma and Laszewski closed the first quarter 22-20.
Morris’ triple at the start of the second period gave the Apulians the first advantage; Cournooh and Burnell re-established the distance, but Morris was hot and first scored 26-26, then putting Brindisi back in front (33-34).
However, Germani always had control of the match and built an 8-0 run (41-34); thanks to baskets by Christon and Della Valle the hosts went into the long break at 47-39.
The third quarter saw Brindisi still try to believe it, but Brescia reached a double-digit lead with Christon, Akele and Della Valle (ultimately top scorer with 18 points). The match remained alive thanks to the guests’ final attempts to stay in touch with Sneed, Bayehe and Morris, while Cobbins and Gabriel worked for Brescia: in the last ten minutes it reached 69-60.
The end of the match came at the start of the final period from triples by Della Valle, Cournooh and Gabriel: after three minutes Brescia was +19 (81-62). Brindisi’s attempts to honor the match by trying to get closer were useless: the guests were always sent back by Bilan, Burnell and Gabriel. Final score: 94-75.
Germani Brescia-Happy Casa Brindisi 94-75 (22-20, 47-39, 69-60)
Brescia: Christon 6, Gabriel 15, Bilan 9, Burnell 12, Massinburg 5, Tanfoglio, Della Valle 18, Petrucelli, Cobbins 8, Cournooh 5, Akele 16, Porto. All. Skinny.
Toasts: Morris 16, Malaventura, Laquintana, Sneed 10, Laszewski 8, Smith 4, Seck, Lombardi 6, Bartley 6, Riisma 3, Bayehe 12, Washington 10. Coach Sakota.
