Sassari and Trento knockout, Cremona good

Following Sidigas Avellino’s ninth consecutive league win against Acqua Vitasnella Cantù, the other stars of our Beko A Series took to the parquet.

Dolomiti Energia Trentino, on stage in Varese against Openjobemetis, runs into an unexpected knockout against coach Paolo Moretti’s team that even risks jeopardizing the bianconeri’s playoff berth. Ready to go and Aquila immediately looks for the decisive stretch: Wright’s bimane is worth the 6-13 that forces Varese to timeout. Trento continues to run at a high pace and with the Wright-Pascolo pair closes the first half on 17-25. The hosts have no intention of letting up, however, and with baskets by Kangur and Davies they recover point by point, arriving at halftime just one length behind (40-41). The balance is total and the baskets of an irrepressible Brandon Davies are answered blow by blow by a dominant Dada Pascolo. The decisive stretch for the hosts, however, comes only in the last fraction when Openjobmetis takes advantage of the ex-Philadelphia 76ers’ night of grace (27 points and 16 rebounds for a 38 rating) to put the challenge on ice. At Masnago it ends 96-82.

After a shock start with only 8 points scored in a 3/13 first quarter from the field, Vanoli Cremona managed to overturn the result against Betaland Capo d’Orlando and snatch its 15th win of its season that allows it to hook Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia in the standings (74-73). Despite a decidedly negative team performance, coach Cesare Pancotto’s lineup can count on the usual contribution of the excellent Tyrus McGee (23 points for him) and Dragovic’s baskets in the last quarter that allow them to complete the comeback. Capo d’Orlando, as usual dragged by little great Ryan Boatright, gives up in the final but would also have the chance to win it: Starks doesn’t miss for +1 Vanoli while on the other side Nicevic’s shot doesn’t go in.

Giorgio Tesi Group Pistoia interrupts its streak of 5 consecutive defeats and, thanks to an incredible 33-point fourth quarter, overcomes Pasta Reggia Caserta (88-94), good at staying in the race until the end with Siva’s baskets and Hunt’s energy. For Coach Esposito’s lineup, there were 22 points from an excellent Preston Knowles and 17 from a particularly foul-shooting Alex Kirk. There were 9 points from baby Andrea Amato (on loan from Olimpia Milano) who, despite 0/4 from 2, sent 3 of the 4 bombs attempted to the basket. Unexpected defeat, instead, that of Dinamo Sassari that, at PalaSerradimigni, had to give way to Obiettivo Lavoro Bologna (85-91). For the bianconeri, dragged by Collins and Pittman, it was the first away win of the season in the presence of an opponent whose Akognon’s 19 and Kadji’s 18 were not enough. Virtus’ victory makes even heavier the knockout of Consultinvest Pesaro, which, after being ahead the whole game against Enel Brindisi, gets nailed in the final and suffers the overbearing comeback of Piero Bucchi’s team pushed by the usual Adrian Banks, author of 33 precious points. At PalaPentassuglia it ends 81-76.

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