Tezenis Verona – Wegreenit Urania Milano 77-67 (21-19; 44-32; 56-46)
Verona fixes the defense and equalizes the series against a more relaxed Urania than two days ago. It proves to be brilliant Ivan Buva on the one hand (24 points, 8 rebounds, 8 fouls suffered), on the other it is not repeated Aristide Landi (only 3 points). Tezenis accelerates in the second period (partial score 23-13) and never looks back.
Lupusor and the hot hand from three of Beloved they push Milan which immediately goes up 8-2. Villa’s team protects the area as much as possible and shoots from the perimeter with precision. Verona responds to the opponent’s fire by increasing the turns in defense, recovering the ball and going into transition: 6-0 signed Penna-Esposito and guest time-out on +1 (11-10). The first sign of impact of Buva home’s +2 (16-14) is worth it. Wegreenit has an inspired Lupusor but Verona finds an offensive rhythm with Udom, who suffers the first foul of the match only 1’34” from the end of the first quarter, and with Vittorio Bartoli. Speaking of impact from the bench, it was Beverly’s final dunk that set the score 9-7pm local after 10′.
On the Stefanelli-Vittorio Bartoli axis the first flash of the second quarter for Tezenis. Gaijc and Murphy give solidity in defense and rebounding, Saverio Bartoli posts the +7 (26-19) with the triple. Milan suffers the opponent’s physicality and remains in the match with a couple of initiatives Belovedbut on the other side it is Quill to unleash a personal break of 5-0 which gives his team +9 (34-25). The first basket of Landi it’s just an isolated episode within an all-yellow-blue quarter: Buva makes his presence count, Penna continues to impact, Gazzotti spoons the +15 (43-28). Urania nibbles at the end from the line with Lupusor on point: at the end of the first half 44-32 for Verona.
At the beginning of the third quarter it was released with a guilty delay Potts. But the impact of Buva it is devastating with three baskets in a row that give the home team a new +15 (50-35). Penna’s third foul frees up more Beloved which rises with blows flanked by Mountain. Conversely, the Scaliger attack goes into crisis, betrayed by a dull Stefanelli: Milan thus gets closer to -8 (45-53). The triple of Udom Tezenis reawakens and, all things considered, holds up well in defence: 56-46 after 30′.
The one to break the deadlock in the fourth period Stefanelli who scores +13 (61-48) on entry. Beloved he counters immediately, but the physicality of Buva on both sides it allows Verona to stay ahead by 14 (65-51). Local advantage that swells with the triple of Gaijc, while Milan seems exhausted after super race 1. AND Mountain to try to turn on the light: the personal break of 5-0, however, does not hurt Tezenis, because Esposito reiterates the +15 from the corner (71-56). The late outburst of Potts reduces Milan’s disadvantage to -8 (65-73). The Veronese attack is confusing and Potts himself has the triple of potential -5 in his hands. But Tezenis completes the mission and ties the series.
Scoreboards
Verona: Penna 11, Udom 14, Gaijc 3, Esposito 7, Buva 24, Stefanelli 5, Bartoli S. 3, Bartoli V. 5, Murphy 3. All.: Ramagli.
Milan: Amato 16, Potts 8, Severini 6, Lupusor 11, Landi 3, Montano 16, Bonacini, Piunti, Beverly 7, Cavallero. All.: Villa.
