Ecodem Alpo Basket begins its adventure in the play-offs in the best possible way: it beats Empoli in game 1 of the quarter-finals (89-76), returns to victory at home after two consecutive knockouts and in 3 days will have the chance to close the score in race 2 in Empoli.
Great evening in three-point shooting for the blue and whites who shot 59% from beyond the arc (13/22), scored 89 points and above all scored a sumptuous 113 rating (against 51 for Empoli). MVP and star of the evening Sofia Frustaci, double double for her (23+10) with 5/6 threes and an amazing 39 rating. There are 5 Veronese players who finish in double figures, as well as the Empoli team who prove to be a very good team. First quarter that goes by leaps and bounds: initial 5-0 for the hosts, to which the Tuscans respond with a 0-8 (5-8), the returning Moriconi fails to score the equalizer but Turel’s triple is worth the overtaking (10- 8). At half time it was a draw, Alpo tried to escape with Rosignoli from three and Soglia from two who closed an internal break of 10-2 (15-10) but Ruffini’s triple kept Empoli afloat (15-13). Verona takes another advantage with Frustaci’s free throws and Turel’s heavy conclusion (20-13), the +7 is reiterated again by Turel (22-15) and the half ends with Nori’s personal shots (24-18).
In the second quarter the double-digit advantage arrives for coach Soave’s team: it is Soglia who supports the basket of 31-21, USE Rosa Scotti does not give up and responds with triples from Stoichkova and Villarruel which are worth -3 (33- 30). The bombardment also continues on the Veronese side: Frustaci and Moriconi score triples at 39-30, then come those from Moriconi and Rosignoli and Il takes the biggest lead of the evening (48-35) just before the half-time siren.
The third quarter starts at 48-37, Stoichkova scores 5 consecutive ones and the contest is reopened (48-42): Rosignoli and Turel bring Ecodem back into the lead by double figures (52-42) and a little later there is +12 with Nori (62-50). Cioni’s team doesn’t collapse this time too, in fact they manage to climb back up to -3 thanks to a 0-9 run closed by Manetti (62-59).
The half ends with Soglia’s free throws (64-59), the match remains balanced also because in the first 3 minutes of the fourth period the two contenders score only one basket each (67-61). However, the referees sanction a technical foul on the red and white bench and here is the new internal +10 after Turel’s free throw (71-61). It’s not over because from the line Patanè and Castellani mend the gap (71-65), but Alpo is on the ball, so much so that they will score 25 points in this quarter. At 78-71 the usual Frustaci scores 5 consecutive ones which mean 81-71 and 83-73. There are 2 minutes left until the siren and Alpo Basket can play with the clock and manage the advantage. Castellani’s triple scores the score -7 a minute and a half before the bell (83-76) but it will be Empoli’s last basket of the evening; Ecodem will also no longer score from the field and will go to the line 8 times, sealing the result with a final 6/8 from the line (89-76).
Andrea Etrari – Uff. Alpo Basket ’99 print
