OfSerena Spinazzi Lucchesi
Basketball, Umana plays aggressively in the quarter-final match: super Tucker. We return to Taliercio on Monday for the last act
Either that or at home. And Umana Reyer chose to play like this: aggressive, bad enough, with a hint of madness in attempting – and finding – impossible triples. In the inside or outside game, the orogranata accomplished the feat, conquered the PalaBigi and brought the series to 2-2. It wasn’t a walk in the park, though. Up by 14 in the second period, the orogranata suffered the return of Reggio Emilia several times, until the thrill at the end.
The decisive act
We return to Taliercio on Monday for the last act. The decisive one to reach the semi-final. Without Kabengele (knee sprain), under the boards there is Tessitori, but Simms also takes on more responsibility: he makes the triple that opens the match. The first break (8-13) was scored by Tessitori, while Reggio Emilia took the lead with Uglietti in the 5th minute (14-13). Now it’s orogranata solo with Wiltjer: two triples plus a basket are worth +11 (14-25). We reach +14 with Simms, while Reggio plays on Black and Faye. The Reggio Emilia defense is always on the limit of foul play, but this time there is another refereeing measure. We hit +14 again with Simms (24-38), while the team The home team insists on playing in the box. Reyer suffers, defensive aids don’t work. Thus Reggio begins to recover. Faye punishes and goes to dunk, then Weber’s triple makes it -5 (33-38 at 15′). Reyer responds with heavy shots, even sometimes forced, because her percentages prove her right. But in the end, with the tension rising and the contacts getting harder and harderFaye and Galloway bring Unahotels back to -2.
The decisive periods
The third period resumes in the sign of Vitali who scores two triples and brings Reggio back to -2 (54-56). The bad news isn’t over, as Tessitori commits his fourth foul after yet another skirmish with Black. He goes with the small quintet and it works, because Tucker (mvp) is particularly inspired tonight and is again +10 (62-72). At the end of the quarter Reyer suffers defensive doubles and after a couple of mix-ups in attack it is 69-72. Last ten minutes: Reggio goes back to -2, Wiltjer and De Nicolao hit from long range (72-80) only to then suffer a new assault from the people of Reggio Emilia. The response comes from the captain and Heidegger with a triple from midcourt (77-85). It is precisely the heavy shots that keep Reyer up: Wiltjer’s is worth 79-90, while Simms has to go out due to a blow. Reggio’s last attack came in the last minute, with Spissu coming off for his fifth foul and Faye scoring -5 (88-93) 40′ seconds from time. Tucker makes a single free throw, but Reggio misses the triple of saving the match. More points with De Nicolao from the foul line. Last seconds with Reggio at -3, the captain again from the line. Now it’s over and we’ll see you again on Monday evening on the pitch.
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May 18, 2024
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