Hot race at PalaTriccoli. After three hard-fought periods, Jesi imposes itself and dominates. Casagrande top scorer with 23 points. Race 3 in Piacenza on Friday 10 May
JESI, 7 May 2024 – If you thought that Game 2 was a walk in the park after the success of the first round, serious mistake.
The play offs are like a championship in themselves and anything can happen. Jesi fights for three quarters in a very physical and at times nervous match. Piacenza held on to the match and then capitulated only halfway through the final period. Now Ghizzinardi’s boys, next Friday at 8.30pm, will go to Piacenza in search of a third crucial victory.
Piacenza starts at great speed and after the Maglietti’s initial bomb to inaugurate game 2 of the playoffs, Criconia sounds the charge carrying on his own. Jesi initially chases and then reacts in the 7th minute Tiberti impacts (10-10). Two consecutive triples by Marulli and Rossi followed by Varaschin they put the lions back ahead less than 1′ before the first bell (20-12) but the guests chase, 20-18 at 10′.
The climate becomes incandescent at PalaTriccoli: Bertocco hits more fouls by not making a mistake from the line in the 13th minute (20-22). Jesi recovers with Casagrande and Merletto from long range in the 14th minute (26-22).
The match continues back and forth and despite some shooting inaccuracies, in the 17th minute Jesi he finds inertia again with Tiberti and a great Casagrande who leaves no chance from the arc in the 18th minute (36-27). The match becomes nervous, the game becomes more physical by the Emilian defense and the last lines before the long interval take place almost from the charity line but upon returning to the changing rooms, Jesi leads +5, 38-33.
There second part of the match continues along the lines of the first half and the tension shows no sign of decreasing, the two contenders compete by imposing their respective physicality.
T-shirts he gets closer by hitting from long range in the 25th minute, 45-40. Tiberti and Marulli push their opponent back less than 2′ from the gong (51-40) but Piacenza doesn’t give up, Soviero and Bertocco’s free throws at the end keep the red and whites in contact. 54-51 at 30′. The fate of Game 2 of the playoffs is decided all in the last 10′.
Piacenza remains close to the game for the first few minutes. From the 33rd minute onwards after a foul with two 2/2 free throws scored by capita Valentini Jesi finds the right intensity again: Casagrande followed by Bruno and Varaschin they bring the inertia back to their side and Jesi widens the gap in the 35th minute (71-51).
In the last three minutes left to play, one Piacenza, now lacking oxygen, struggled to find the way to the basket effectively putting the game on ice. Ghizzinardi gives space to the youngsters in the last remaining minute and at the final siren, the Palatriccoli can finally rejoice for the hard-fought second consecutive playoff victory: 80-63.
Friday 10 May at 8.30pm, Game 3 of the play-off quarter-finals in Piacenza.
JESI: Valentini 2, Merletto 5, Nisi 1, Vita Sadi 1, Marulli 10, Bruno 7, Casagrande 23, Rossi 11, Varaschin 9, Tiberti 11. Coach Ghizzinardi
BAKERY BASKET PIACENZA: Criconia 10, Bertocco 10, Mastroianni 13, Soviero 8, Rasio 12, Maglietti 8, El Agbani 2. Coach Salvemini
PARTIALS: 20-18, 18-15, 16-18, 26-12.
Referees: Chiarugi of Pontedera (PI) and Melai of Calcinaia (PI).
NOTE: 955 spectators. Maglietti out for 5 fouls.
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