Trieste also crushes Forlì in game 3, on the first match point, and wins the playoff final in the Gold draw. The Giulians won 85-68, capitalizing at home on the 2-0 advantage gained on the road in the first two matches. Trieste, in great form, got the better of the winners of the Red group and the Italian Cup, but were unlucky for losing star Allen on the eve of the playoffs.
Five men in double figures for Trieste, namely Brooks (18), Candussi (15), Filloy (14), Ruzzier (13) and Menalo (10). Now, for coach Christian’s team – who previously played in the NCAA – the great challenge of the playoff final, which they will still play with the home court factor against them, still starting away and with the possible Game 5 to be played away from their home field.
Meanwhile, in the other group, Trapani was the first to reach the final, thanks to a clear 3-0 win against Verona in the semi-final: victories 78-71, 91-69 and 78-95. The owner of the Sharks, Valerio Antonini, spoke on TeleSud, the Sicilian network of which he has been the owner for a few months, to comment on his first final as president: «For the first time I realized in a sensational way the greatness of this team. An extraordinary team, with truly top-class players of a high level. Everything we told our fans is coming true, I must say also in a sensational way with clear results, victory after victory. And today we are three victories away from Serie A, which represents an incredible dream for Trapani, unimaginable until a few months ago.”
Antonini, already promoted to Serie C with Trapani Calcio in recent weeks, now dreams of an encore in basketball: «Trapani has been waiting for this moment for thirty years. It only took twelve months to make it happen.”
Fortitudo Bologna also reaches the final after beating Rieti away in game 3 as well.
