Trento defeats Udine and wins the “Gianni Brusinelli”
With a strong comeback in the fourth quarter, Dolomiti Energia Trentino won the 12th edition of the “Gianni Brusinelli” Memorial, defeating APU Old Wild West Udine 91-87. The Bianconeri started strong and ended the first quarter up by seven points, but Udine fought back and, during the second half, built a lead as large as 11 points. L’Aquila refused to give up and mounted a strong comeback in the final quarter, gradually chipping away at the deficit and taking the lead in the closing minutes, led by Quincy Olivari’s play. Olivari was named MVP of the game, scoring 27 points. Darius Brown II and Charlie Brown Jr. also had excellent games, each scoring 16 points. For Udine, however, Denzel Valentine’s 18 points and Eimantas Bendzius’s 16 were not enough.
McGlynn opened the game with a layup, then Battle hit a shot from the corner. Trento responded by turning to Darius Brown II, who scored six straight points to give the Eagles their first lead. Olivari and, above all, Charlie Brown Jr.—who stands out with two three-pointers in transition—push the Bianconeri to a 14-7 lead. Udine stays composed and closes the gap with Valentine, Calzavara, and Bendzius, while Niang responds from beyond the arc. Bucarelli completes the Friuli comeback, and the first quarter ends 25-22.
In the second quarter, the game remains tightly contested. Bigelow opens with a three-pointer; Cavallero and McGlynn turn the score around, while Medina Bouza and Darius Brown II try to give Trento another run. Stijepanovic shifts the momentum, hitting two consecutive three-pointers to make it 40–41. In the closing moments, Olivari ties the game from the free-throw line, but Calzavara sends Udine into halftime ahead 45-43.
In the final quarter, Udine tried to defend its lead, but Trento stepped up the pace. Darius Brown II, Bayehe, and a decisive Olivari from long range completed the comeback. In the closing moments, Medina Bouza and Bendzius kept the game alive, but Olivari hit the basket to make it a 4-point lead and then sank the free throws to seal the victory. Bendzius missed the potential game-tying three-pointer, and L’Aquila could celebrate: Trento won 91-87.
