Reggio Emilia says goodbye to Champions League
The UNAHOTELS Reggio Emilia struggled to the end but surrendered 72-82 in Game 2 of the Basketball Champions League 2024/25 quarterfinals against Unicaja Malaga, thus having to leave the competition. The red-and-whites were not enough with 14 points apiece from Smith and Faried (the latter with 7 rebounds, 21 rating) and 12 points apiece from Winston and Barford.
The red-and-whites started out strong with Cheatham’s perimeter shooting and five points of pure talent from Barford immediately trying to pull Perez and co. away at 12-5. After a bomb by Smith, Osetkowski tries to load Unicaja on his shoulders, Taylor escapes on a counterattack to also sign the -3 free throws but the Winston-Faried pick and roll closes out the opening 10 minutes for Reggiana on 17-12 at best. Malaga started the second period strong, however, with Tillie’s versatility and a Kalinoski bomb signing a 0-10 break for the Andalusians, interrupted by a pair of thunderous dunks by Faye and Winston’s important triple of the reattachment at 24-24. After another Tillie bomb and Djedovic’s first ring, Faye and sharpshooter Smith try to keep Reggiana alive but again Djedovic and a Diaz bomb let the guests stretch the lead to 29-38. Thanks to a couple of flurries by Carter, Unicaja also flies to +12, Smith from the arc comes back to make his presence felt twice in a row, nullifying a four-point play by Diaz and closing the opening 20 minutes on 37-46.
The resumption begins with a great duel between Faried in the area and his counterpart Balcerowski from distance, then leaving it to a Winston support in transition to sign the 45-53. With a Vitali bomb and another pair of accelerations by the quick Winston, Reggio Emilia concretized excellent defenses, however, and also converted on the other end with Faried’s 56-55 overtaking big layup. At the end of the quarter, however, Carter from the lunette and a tap-in by Perez handed the lead back to Unicaja at 56-58. After an alley-oop between Carter and Perez, Winston and Barford get back to their best for the red-and-whites, who get close again at 61-62 after a winning fade-away by Cheatham, although Perry then takes the proscenium with two consecutive bombs for the host +7 with 4 1/2 minutes to go. UNAHOTELS however does not let up, Faried with a tap-in and a willing basket by Barford bring the hosts back to within one possession, although then again Perry to the iron rebounds a jumper by Smith signing the 67-72 with just over 120″ to go. Osetkowski is later glacial for Unicaja by sending a bomb on target, Barford however retaliates in the same coin and then Carter and Perez punish Winston’s mistakes with baskets that close out the contest.
The red-and-whites will now focus only on the championship, hosting Napoli Basket on Saturday, April 19 at 4 p.m. (live on DAZN).
