Playoff game 2, Libertas-Faenza 62-67. The series was tied: 1-1

Monday 6 May 2024 — 8.54pm

Faenza equalized the series by winning away on this Monday 6 May in front of a packed PalaMacchia who left speechless at the end of the 40 minutes. It ends 62-67 for the neroverdi with a Libertas team that struggled to get into the match from the first quarter (click here to consult the scoreboard). Down 9 to 17 the first half gets back on track going to the break at 36 to 25. But from the third quarter the music changes again. The guests find an important break. Ricci doesn’t find the way to the triple (0/6 from long range)

entrusted instead to Saccaggi and Tozzi who are trying to keep theirs afloat. He’s starting to run out of breath and the short rotations don’t help with Lucarelli and Terenzi in the pits and Williams returning after a bad blow suffered in race 1.
Libertas is no longer back in the game. He tries hard and hard in the last 3 minutes of the match when he closes the gap by coming back from a heavy partial of -14 (45-56). But it is a hopeless undertaking. The character tries to come out but, also thanks to some not too benevolent referee whistles and some free throws “that weren’t there”, as he

Andreazza underlined in the post-race interview, courage gets stuck in the impossible mission of reversing the situation. The percentages are low 8/20 from two points and 10/33 from the 6.75 arc. For a total of 18/53 from the field. More than anything else, the item that hurts the most are the 17 turnovers that give too many second chances to the opponents. It ends 62 to 67. The amaranth public leaves in silence. There is some nervousness in the stands. Amaranto called to reverse course on Friday 10 May to return to the top of the series in these quarter-finals and continue the journey of a beautiful championship.

First quarter in which Libertas struggles to get on.

He scores only 2 points in the first 5 minutes and another 2 points again scored by Ricci in the following seconds. Faenza doesn’t shine, for goodness sake, but defends dirty and hard. The Amaranths conceded many second possessions to the guests. Saccaggi brings the hosts back under with a bomb that brings the score closer to 9-12 but the neroverdi accelerate with a small break of 5-0 which brings the curtain of the first half down to 9 to 17.

Second quarter which opens with Allinei placing a ready-to-go bomb (12-17). Then it’s Tozzi who replies again from long range shortly after: 15-19. Bargnesi follows in the wake of the amaranth bombs and now Libertas is 1: 18-19 down. Aligni from free throws scores the overtaking 20-19. Sackings still bomb: 23-21. Libertas is still dragged by Sacca-bomb who grinds out points: 25-22. Fundamental triple by Williams with 2 left in the second quarter: 28-23. Allinei suffers an unsportsmanlike foul. Libertas sprints and goes up 34 to 23 with one minute left until half time. After the siren stops the score at 36 to 25. We go to half-time.

Third fourth. Ricci goes out due to a stomp received from Vico. Faenza goes back behind but it is the Dutch Lion who pushes their opponents back with a bomb that sets the score at 39 to 29. But the guests are not tamed and make a small break of 5-0: 39-34. Ricci returns to the field after a couple of minutes but Faenza is dangerously behind at 39 to 37 thanks to a bomb from Begarin.
Faenza is a beast and bites dangerously, moving ahead to 39-42. Then it’s Sacca-bomb again, who scores the triple for the equalizer: 42-42. The match heats up. Technical to Andreazza: Faenza goes 42 to 47 with 2 left in the third half. Triple by Faenza with Petrucci: 42-50. Then Faenza again: 42-52 and Faenza again. The third quarter ends at 42-54.

Last quarter in which Faenza manages to keep the Amaranths at a safe distance in the first minutes. Halfway through the last half the scoreboard reads 47-61 for the guests. Tozzi tries to charge with a bomb: 50-61. Ricci from free throws 2/2: 52-61. Tozzi again with a long range basket: 57-65 when the scoreboard reads 2:21 from the end. Williams keeps hope alive with a basket from deep: 59-65. Align from the charity line fa 1/2: 60-65. Vico on the other side infringement of steps. 35 seconds left. Time out Andreazza. Libertas down by 5. Allinei misses a three. Faenza to free throws 2/2: 60-67. Fantoni from below: 62-67. Libertas foul in attack. He ends up like this. In a silenced PalaMacchia.
Faenza equalizes the series: 1-1. Away on Friday for Game 3.