Basketball, C Gold: Valeiras also out, the Expo gives in to the Varese Academy (74-82)

Bad luck, in the form of injuries, shows no signs of abandoning the Expo Inox, defeated this evening at the Parona stadium by the young players of the Varese Academy (74-82). Already without the various Muzio, Lonati, Pirovano and Rossi Raccagni, at the beginning of the third quarter the Lomellini also lost the Spanish Valeiras, the backbone of the team under the scoreboards. It is clear that at that point the task became even more complicated for Zanellati’s team, also in consideration of the fact that the opponents, although last in the standings, had shown some growth in recent outings, putting even the leaders Saronno to the test.

In the first quarter the game remains on the rails of equilibrium (22-21 in the 10th minute); same thing also in the second half, it is only shortly before the break that the guests manage to extend to 35-44. Right at the resumption of play the injury of the Spaniard who rebounded falls on the foot of an opponent causing a sprained ankle. The NBA accuses the blow and slips to -15 (37-52), but tries to react and in fact mends the gap despite Andrea Facchi’s exit for fouls (55-59 in the 30th minute). With Laverone born in 2006 on the field, the result remained in the balance until 5 minutes from the end (67-69) when the guests posted a 5-0 run. A basket plus a free throw by Kordis still gives a modicum of hope to the Expo (70-74 in the 36th minute), but the people of Varese put in another 6-0 which definitively cuts the hosts’ legs.

In the Expo, Kordis’ usual game of substance (double-double with 15 rebounds), while Valeiras, despite playing half the match, reached 20 ratings, and this makes us understand how much his injury has weighed. Unfortunately, Billi’s bad shooting night (1/14 from the field) should also be noted, while Di Paolo, the main protagonist of the comeback in the third quarter, then committed a couple of ingenuities in the final which favored the Varese players’ extension.

Expo Inox Nba Billi 11, Di Paolo 18, Kordis 21, Invernizzi 3, Laverone 5, A. Facchi 2, Valeiras 14; ne Ltifi, G. Facchi, Gabellotti. Herds Zanellati.