Germani wins the battle against Venice 90-84 at Palaleonessa

Brescia. With a good team match, Germani overcame 90-84 on Sunday evening a difficult opponent like Venezia, who arrived at PalaLeonessa to question the supremacy of the home team. But Brescia – with Petrucelli forced to the bench – was able to prevail at the end of a match that remained substantially balanced for 38 minutes, until coach Alessandro Magro’s team managed to gain that handful of points of separation which, carried to the end, they delivered the deserved victory. Allowing them to keep Bologna and Milan behind to maintain the solitary first place in the standings.
First quarter of a match without masters, with the lagoon players trying to escape on +3 (9-12) thanks to Kabengele’s triple and Brescia countering with Christon and Burnell for 22-17. At the first mini break Germani ahead by one basket: 22-19.
Upon returning, the Leonessa tries to step on the accelerator with Gabriel for 25-19, but Venezia is a team equipped with talent and athleticism and with 8 points from Wiltjer they take the lead again (25-27). Brescia relies on Massinburg, Burnell, Christon and Della Valle, Venezia on Tucker, Casarin, Heidegger and Kabengele, whose dunk brings everything back to zero: 39-39 one minute before the long break. Then an unusual triple from Miro Bilan, two free throws from Spissu and a basket from Christon send the teams to the locker rooms at 44-41. Brescia is ahead, but everything still needs to be done.
And in fact Spissu’s triple opens the third period bringing the teams back 44-44. Venezia tries to extend the lead to 46-51, but Della Valle and Gabriel close the score to 53-53. The guests responded to Burnell’s bomb with two triples from Wiltjer (56-59) followed by baskets from Kabengele and Tucker for a 56-63 which worried coach Magro, who was forced to call a timeout. It’s a -7 that lasts a few minutes, until Cournooh makes 2 of 2 from the foul line and Burnell scores the triple that closes the third period 65-67. We are still there.
In short, three quarters of a balanced race, made up of suffering and battle for both of the two (excellent) teams on the pitch. The fourth period slowly warms up, but what sets things on fire is another bomb from Bilan followed by two triples from Della Valle: Brescia rises to +6 (75-69) and is determined to try. Venice, however, does not stand by and watches and with 5 minutes left the score is back level: 75-75. All beautiful to see, even if very dangerous for the fans’ coronaries. Germani still leads Bilan and Della Valle, but De Nicolao brings the score back to 79-78 with a bomb.
The ending is tense: three free throws from Burnell for 83-80, the providential triple from Massinburg for 86-80 with less than a minute left. Is it done? Maybe yes. Actually no. Because four points from the line from Kabengele and Spissu seem to reopen the game with 86-84. But Della Valle is the master of free throws and makes 2 of 2. Then Massinburg closes the game with a dunk on the break to set the score 90-84. Sigh of relief for the victory and applause to both of them for the good race. Five men in double figures among ours: Bilan 17, Burnell 16, Della Valle and Christon 15, Massinburg 12.
Germani Brescia-Umana Reyer Venezia 90-84 (22-19, 44-41, 65-67)
Brescia: Christon 15, Gabriel 7, Bilan 17, Burnell 16, Massinburg 12, Tanfoglio, Della Valle 15, Petrucelli, Cobbins 2, Cournooh 3, Akele 3, Porto. All. Skinny.
Venice: Spissu 12, Tessitori 4, Heidegger 11, Casarin 3, De Nicolao 3, Janelidze, Kabengele 15, Parks 2, Brooks 8, Simms, Wiltjer 15, Tucker 11. All. Spahija.