Brescia takes derby with Varese
The Lombardy derby goes to Germani Brescia that folds Varese 102-94 ((29-18;21-29;25-18;27-29). Not even time to sit in the stands that Ivanovic, launched on the counterattack by Della Valle, after a splendid collective defense, opens the match with a support on the glass. Varese, however, as an organized and tough team and with the initiatives of Iroegbu and Alviti, remains on the waterline, mainly by means of baskets approaching the iron, which bend the white-blue resistance. Ivanovic, Germani’s metronome, decides to step up to the cathedra, hurling two triples that restore oxygen to the hosts, who keep the level of defensive intensity unchanged, forcing the opponents to uncomfortable conclusions. Brescia, thus, controls the pace of the game and, through Burnell’s flare-ups, leads by eleven points at the first buzzer.
The second quarter, at least at the outset, sees Alviti and Stewart attempt to climb back up the ladder. However, Germani fends off any half-hearted attempts. Brescia, with a solid unity of purpose, continues to express its flow of offensive play, where Della Valle and Ivanovic orchestrate the white-blue score with precision and sagacity, always looking for the best solution. Germani tries to lay the foundations for an early breakaway, but Openjobmetis, propelled by Iroegbu and Moore, authentic dynamo, shortens the gap to ten lengths, when coach Matteo Cotelli decides to pause the clock with the goal of turning the tide. Upon returning to the parquet, Alviti, after an act of violence inflicted on Ndour, allows his teammates to chase to seven points. Bilan retries the stretch, but Moore brings the discrepancy back to three points at the long break.
The resumption of hostilities is scattered by a shootout between Della Valle and Alviti, with the guests, following a great comeback, back chasing by a length. Germani, in the moment of greatest difficulty, however, draws its claws, especially on defense, while Della Valle, from beyond the arc, and Rivers, approaching the iron, try to give new life to the biancoblu colors. Varese, for its part, remains applied and on the ball, but Brescia, with several high quality defenses and cynicism, touches up the ten-point lead for the new Varese timeout. Brescia is not intimidated and repays its opponents in kind, responding blow by blow and trying to dig the decisive furrow ahead of the last ten minutes. Brescia led the course of the challenge with ten points in the barn.
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The last fraction of the game starts off on a white-blue foot. The hosts, in fact, write a seven-point partial, while Openjobmetis, accomplice to the home defensive focus, remains stuck in the post. It’s up to Iroegbu and Nkamhoua to break the travelers’ fast. Here, then Mobio, valuable coming off the bench, makes two steals and excellent choices on the offensive end, attempts to send the credits rolling.
Finished? Not by a long shot. Varese is a resilient team and, with a 2-8 partial, gets back under double digits late. Coach Matteo Cotelli spends a timeout. Della Valle tries to get everyone in agreement through a bomb, but Librizzi disagrees and keeps a glimmer of hope alive for his teammates. It’s late Brescia stands first in the standings and qualifies for the Final Eight in Turin.
