If this knockout does not have the taste of surrender, we are close to it. Because the one-two collected by Umana Reyer within 48 hours of those who can knock out anyone, without the possibility of getting up again. The defeat in front of the Taliercio fans (63-73) hurts even more, not only because it is worth 2-1 in the playoff quarter-finals for Tortona, but because now the series is an uphill and ice-covered road. And then the signs, more troubling than ever. The orogranata score with the dropper, they have very bad long-range shooting percentages (5/26) and, above all, they never give the impression of being able to react and take the game back in hand. So the 40 minutes at the Taliercio are a long chase, which is never rewarded by overtaking. The only moment of equilibrium, with the duo removed, the 6-6 which sees Theodore in the line for a 2/2. And in this game so complicated for the terrible percentages for free (7/14 at the interval, 14/28 at the end) almost a rare pearl. Not to mention archery, which, as in game 2, struggles to engage: it will be 1/9 at the end of the first two periods. In this tiring run-up made of low percentages often dictated by hasty choices, Reyer drops to -8 twice in the first set, closed at 12-20. She stays in the wake thanks to some flare-ups, see Mazzola’s heavy shot (18-20) which will be the only one for 28 minutes and the subsequent plays by Theodore and Brooks, both more present than on Tuesday evening.
The mirage of overtaking
Reyerini’s assaults were effectively repelled by Bertram and, despite arriving twice at a single point of distance (25-26), the mirage of overtaking remains, in fact, a mirage and that’s it. At the interval it goes down by 6, thanks to the triple at the end of Daum (30-36). And si starts again from him, that a freer basket throws back the orogranata once more. It never comes out, despite Theodore’s stubbornness (unlucky with that basket canceled by Brooks’ iron touch) and Tonut’s mini-strip: all this is not enough because Tortona, with simple things but done well and little effort, continues to keep Reyer at a safe distance (34-45) with a margin that always remains around the double digit (42-52). And the second triple of the match, scored by De Nicolao (45-52), a flash that doesn’t last long: after 30 minutesReyer no longer sees the light.
Obligatory victory
Indeed, Tortona also finds points from Macura so far limited by the reyerina defense and by his own fouls, reaching the maximum advantage up to that moment (49-61). The clock runs, while the scoreboard remains nailed to -12. Efforts in defense are not rewarded, on the contrary, because frustration leads to committing a foul, see the very heavy one on Wright’s three-point shot that from the line marks -15 for De Raffaele’s team (51-66). The last blaze was the triple from De Nicolao (60-70) with two minutes to play. But the decisive shot does not come. The home factor has been lost, with Tortona now having two match points to win the semifinal, Reyer forced to win Saturday night at the Taliercio. Or he will already have to say goodbye to this troubled season.
The Corriere del Veneto newsletter
If you want to stay updated on the news of the Veneto, subscribe for free to the newsletter of Courier of the Veneto. It arrives every day straight to your inbox at 12 noon. Just click who.
May 19, 2022 (change May 19, 2022 | 22:40)
© REPRODUCTION RESERVED
