Five in a row, six in the last seven. It is the victories of Germani Brescia, still winning at home, to open the second round in the best possible way. Sassari falls after two victories. Defeat, but not beaten, Piero Bucchi’s team, which pays episodes, suffers a rebound (39 to 27) and fails to bring home the result despite a stellar evening by David Logan (22 points with 5/9 from the arc) . Sassari shoots very well from the pitch and from the arc (53%), but squanders what he builds in attack with a defense, especially in the painted and in the final, not up to par. Bendzius and Robinson produce quite a lot (32 points in two), Kruslin is a valid wingman, while Diop is as surprising on both sides of the field as he is naive in managing the fouls committed, but Bucchi must take note of another night not of Burnell and Mekowulu: the first nervous, the second dull. Brescia then thanks, with the usual Mitrou-Long-Della Valle duo who combine for 46 of the 97 total points of the Leonessa. Crazy chemistry that of the Lombards: each in their own place and with their own role. This is demonstrated by a sumptuous Petrucelli in the final, scoring the decisive points and limiting Logan, as attested by a Laquintana in double figures (11 for him) and a Cobbins with 9 points, 3 rebounds and +24 plus / minus. We reward him, one of the most criticized at the beginning of the season, as the MVP of the race, because he is demonstrating an important growth that goes beyond the numbers, which also see him at the moment as the best scorer in the championship by percentage from the field. Also promoted veterans Burns and Moss, always essential and with the first in double figures. The Leonessa flies in the standings and consolidates the fifth place, while for Sassari a stop that slows down the run-up to the playoff area. The Sardinian team will have to start again from next week, at home against Brindisi. Brescia, on the other hand, will play away at the Taliercio against a Reyer Venezia in crisis.
Quintet Brescia: Mitrou-Long, Della Valle, Petrucelli, Gabriel, Burns
Sassari Quintet: Robinson, Kruslin, Burnell, Bendzius, Diop
Dinamo got off to a strong start, taking advantage of the Brescia turnovers better: 4-10 after a few minutes, which becomes 6-13 around the middle of the first quarter, pushed by a great Robinson. Brescia is not there and reacts blow for blow, with the defense of the guests decreasing in intensity and granting Brescia a partial 10-0, within which there is the overtaking signed by Of the valley from the lunette (24-18). Coach Bucchi decides to call timeout, but Brescia continues to run well and, adjusting the percentages and scoring 26 points in the first 10 ‘(26-10).
Brescia opens the second quarter with the alley-oop of Cobbins for maximum benefit (+8). The same Oklahoma State Weapon product center shortly after the hand of Laquintana, which marks the triple of +11. Bucchi returns to the field Robinson, getting a minimal reaction from his boys, who mend thanks to a Logan in an excellent evening: Sassari returns to -6 at 15 (33-27) but continues to lose several balls in attack, too many. The travelers now depend on the former Treviso, which is unleashed by the arc. It also helps him Kruslin, always from long range: the Croatian hits two bombs in a row, e Robinson he follows closely, putting Sassari back in front (40-38), thanks to a 12-0 break in the second half of the second fraction. Brescia swerves in front of the host defense, falls back badly in defense and suffers easy points on the counterattack. Coach Magro stops the match, with Brescia struggling to score and the partial widens to 15-0, stopped by the free throw of Moore. 42-43 at the interval.
Diop opens the dance in the second half with a 2/2 from the line, a response from Of the valley from the arc and the teams are equal to 45. A shooting begins in the field, with the teams with very hot hands (53-51 at 24 ‘). Sassari clings to an excellent Diop, while Brescia relies on the sparklingness of Mitrou-Long, top scorer of his so far. And then Of the valley dall’arco, to give +4 to his (61-57) forces the bench of Sassari to timeout. Balance continues to reign supreme, with teams continuing to hold very generous percentages from the pitch and arc. 72-69 to the penultimate siren.
Mitrou-Long marks the first points of the last period for Brescia. Dinamo performs very well in transition, thanks to a super Logan, which so far does not miss anything that is with a minimum of space. Brescia, for its part, dominates in rebound in particular offensive, and maintains two possessions of advantage (76-72 at 33 ‘). Good, very good test, also of Laquintana, to keep Sassari behind, even if Logan disagrees: its one of the two triples (the other of Bendzius) who give the lead back to Dinamo, thanks also and above all to exceptional percentages up to now from three points. Coach Magro calls timeout (76-78), putting up Of the valley on the parquet and the former Olimpia immediately responds by scoring the jumper from the average draw (78-78 at 35 ‘). Skinny dusts off Cobbins, who gains two fouls from Diop (inguenui) sending him to sit on the bench ahead of time and doing 3/4 (81-78). Bucchi puts back Logan, but it is Germani who tries the decisive push with the free players Weather in Petrucelli, who shortly afterwards had marked the lay-up of the Brescia advantage. The former Ulm is now the protagonist, thanks to a revisable defensive management of Dinamo, which with Mekowulu it no longer finds protection than the painted one: the wing still goes to the bottom and supports the +7 (92-85 at 39 ‘). Sassari is on the corner, and Gabriel seals the Brescia success, which matures with a score of 97-86 with the bomb on the siren of Mitrou-Long.
Germani Brescia vs Banco di Sardegna Sassari 97-86 (26-20; 42-43; 72-69)
Brescia: Mitrou-Long 24, Della Valle 22, Cobbins 9, Laquintana 11, Burns 10, Gabriel 7, Moore 3, Eboua 0, Moss 0, Petrucelli 11, Parillo ne, Rodella ne All: Magro
Sassari: Logan 22, Robinson 16, Kruslin 9, Bendzius 16, Treier 0, Devecchi 0, Burnell 2, Mekowulu 2, Gentile 8, Diop 11, Chessa ne, Gandini ne All: Bucchi
MVP Basketinside: Mike Cobbins, because beyond the numbers, on the pitch it has an impact as shown by today’s +24 plus / minus. A growing and confident player like all of Brescia, and many greetings to the critics at the beginning of the year.
