Below is the live text of the meeting.
3Q (53-62): an immediate recovery for Reggio, who however does not find the target with Weber thanks to Kabengele’s good 1v1 defense. However, the American winger from Reggio immediately makes up for it with the mid-range jumper, Galloway follows him with the triple from the corner. At the end, Spissu scores a triple which is a godsend for Venezia, as is the defensive recovery from Black’s irregular block and the basket from Kabengele’s attacking carom. Casarin finds the first long range basket of the evening, with Venezia back to -5 with a score of 42-47. Galloway 1/2 from the line, lean moment for baskets for both teams, with a lot of confusion on both sides. Talking assist from Tessitori for Spissu, who enters double figures and brings Venezia back to -4. Excellent ball also from Uglietti for Reggio’s +6 signed by Faye, then Uglietti himself scores 1/2 from the line. Back and forth between Tessitori and Faye, with the guests remaining ahead by +7 at 46-53. Tucker shows off his explosiveness by scoring an acrobatic layup, but Smith’s 2/2 from the line restores the +7. Tucker and Tessitori make a terrible 1/4 from the line, Faye doesn’t miss the layup on the run. Reggio plays an excellent defensive guard on Tucker with Galloway who first favors the recovery in defense and then punishes Tucker himself who passes behind on the block with the triple from sidereal distance. Reggio ahead 49-60, Spahija forced to timeout again. Tessitori feeds the backdoor to Heidegger who takes contact from Uglietti and goes to the line for 2/2 of -9. Chillo makes 0/2 from the line, but on the offensive rebound favored by Faye Smith makes 2/2 after Heidegger’s foul. Talking assist by Tucker for Tessitori’s floater from the center of the area, which closes the third period of play with a score of 53-62 in favor of the guests. 10 by Spissu for the orogranata, 18 by Galloway for the red and whites.
2Q (34-42): Reggio scores immediately with Black, but Reyer responds with baskets from Wiltjer and Heidegger which force Priftis into the first timeout of the evening at 22-26. Already three team fouls for Venezia in the first two minutes of the match, but neither Reyer nor Reggio managed to find the back of the net in this portion of the match. Wiltjer takes care of breaking the deadlock again with two baskets in a row, the first home advantage of the evening at 27-26 in the 13th minute. Galloway has cooled down, two of his mid-range shots only find the first iron, but Atkins is not there and with a rebound in attack he puts Reggio ahead again. Kabengele misses the close support, Black’s left hook doesn’t miss. Galloway already in double figures and leaning on the rim after the snatch on Tucker, 27-32 Reggio. Terrible exit from the timeout for Venezia who commits a 24″ infringement against the good pressure of the Reggio Emilia defense. Three-point shot and return between Smith and Parks, guests ahead 30-38 in the 17th minute. Kabengele makes his size count on the rebound against the Reggio’s wingers and earn a trip to the line due to Weber’s foul: 2/2 and Reyer at -6. Crazy block by Kabengele against Faye, Venezia recovers the ball but Parks’ triple doesn’t work tap-in in alley-oop, but Parks pushes the Reggio players back with the left-handed floater from the center of the area. Smith goes on his own and in turn gets into double figures with the long-2 After consecutive errors from Spissu, Simms and Kabengele , the teams go to the locker rooms for the break with the score 34-42 for the guests. For Venezia 7 points each for Parks and Wiltjer, for Reggio 11 each for Galloway and a wild Smith.
1Q (18-24): The hosts take the field with Spissu, Tucker, Casarin, Simms and Kabengele; Reggio replies with Weber, Galloway, Vitali, Atkins and Black. The guests started off strong immediately, with Galloway’s triple after Vitali’s delivery. Kabengele tries to join the game with full defense but fails three times due to Black’s good defense. Galloway finds another center from long range, then Weber feeds Atkins free under the basket for the 0-8 Reggio which already forces Spahija to call his first timeout. Venezia comes out of the timeout very well, with Tucker finding the way to the basket for the first thunderous dunk of the evening in Venice: first two also for the hosts. Casarin makes 0/2 from the line but Black doesn’t punish him by losing the ball in attack. Good ball movement in attack for both teams but the defenses dominate, with many defensive recoveries on both sides. Simms and Spissu respond to Weber from midrange with triples, 8-10 Reggio after 5 minutes. Reggiana is back ahead by 5 thanks to Galloway’s third triple of the evening. Q&A Kabengele-Black, 10-15. Simms finds a fortuitous tap-in for -3, but Vitali scores an equally fortuitous triple that gives Reggio the lead at 12-18 after 7 and a half minutes. He shoots 2/2 from the line and leaves room for DeNicolao. Super block by Faye which leads to Smith’s triple in isolation. Kabengele immediately makes up for it with the basket from the center of the area, 16-21. Uglietti was whistled for an unsportsmanlike foul which brought Parks to the line for 2/2 of -3. Tessitori makes a mess as soon as he enters and gives the ball back to the guests, Faye takes the path to the basket for the and-1 whistled to Simms. Additional score and, on the errors of Heidegger and DeNicolao, Reggio closes the first quarter ahead by 6 on the score of 18-24. For the hosts 6 points from Kabengele and 5 from Spissu; for Galloway’s already 9 guests.
THE PREVIEW
I am Umana Reyer Venice And Unahotels Reggio Emilia to kick off the playoffs of the 23/24 season of Legabasket Serie A, in a series that promises to be intense and with no holds barred, and potentially the most balanced and with the least predictable result in the quarter-finals that will be played from today and for all next week. Reyer, who will try to make the most of the field advantage gained thanks to an excellent fourth place in the standings (19 wins and 11 defeats), enters the playoffs on the wave of the victory obtained on the last day against Pesaro and led by the most explosive player as well as the eighth best scorer in the championship, Mr. Rayjon Tucker (14.7ppg). Reggio Emilia, a team with infinite talent and which responds to Tucker with its technical leader Langston Galloway (17ppg), will already attempt the coup on Venetian soil this evening which would give her the chance to close the series within friendly walls. Fasten your seatbelts, because we’re going to see some good things. You are ready? The playoffs begin!
The ball of the match will be raised at 8pm by referees Begnis, Valzani and Dori; the match will be broadcast on Eurosport 1 and Dazn.
