Coach Ilario Azzollini ranks as starting quintet Loprieno, Ippedico, Begić, Christensen and G. Azzollini (preferred to Došic, still in half service, but available on the bench), to which Coach Massimo Caforio responds with Eletto, Kanturek, Caliandro, Leo and Novak. The first basket of the evening comes two minutes from the start of the match with a stop and a fine shot by the long host Novak. Molfetta immediately responds to the hosts’ only advantage of the evening with a winning penetration from Begić and a triple from Giacomo Azzollini, baskets that bring the red and white of Coach Azzollini ahead. Another triple from Giacomo Azzollini and one from the injured Došić immediately direct the game on the right tracks for travelers, increasing the gap between the two contenders to seven points behind four minutes from the end of the first portion of the game. Francavilla attacks and finds important points from the one-on-one challenges engaged by the strong Novak and Kanturek, but Pavimaro does not stand by and, thanks to two baskets from Begić’s 6.75 m line and a winning penetration by Giacomo Azzollini, extends further in the score, closing the first ten minutes of play with a 17-23 lead.
The second quarter is a photocopy of the first: Francavilla chases and Molfetta runs away, led by the usual Ivan Begić and Giacomo Azzollini, who continue to score, bringing the red and white even to a double-digit advantage. Timid reaction of the biancoblù hosts who, led by the veteran Leo, the substitute Mazzarese and the triples of Kanturek and Digiacomo, try to shorten and reduce the passive, but the Molfettesi keep their concentration high even in the defensive phase and, thanks to the conclusions of a super Begić and two cuts to the basket by Christensen end the second half of the game with a score of 43-48.
We return to the field from the long rest, but the mentality of Coach Azzollini’s boys is always the same. A great work in the defensive and rebounding half of the field keeps the opponents at a distance, with Begić and Christensen always on target. Led by Leo and Kanturek, Francavilla does not hesitate to respond blow for blow to the red and white escape attempts, without however ever being able to reach the Molfetta people, who continue to ignite the opponent’s retina also thanks to a Giacomo Azzollini in the evening top both from the media and from the long distance. A few flickers in the final by the hosts sends the two teams to the last rest on the score of 59-70.
Fourth and last period of play that completes and concludes the excellent performance of Pavimaro Pallacanestro Molfetta. Begić’s long-range film library basket and Christensen’s counterattack penetration for +9. On the other hand, Francavilla responds with Mazzarese and the usual Kanturek, becoming dangerous in the middle of the quarter and taking only one full possession away. And it is four minutes from the end of the race in the moment of greatest difficulty that the guests decide to close the games: the triples of a super Capitan Ippedico and a sumptuous Ivan Begić (38 points with 6/7 from the arc of the three points) allow Pavimaro to extend the score and push the hosts back at a safe distance. The inevitable exit for five fouls by Tobias Christensen and the team bonus reached by Molfetta is useless because at the Francavilla Fontana sports hall ends 84-90 in favor of Coach Azzollini’s men.
Next match for the red and white on Sunday 16 November at 20:00 at PalaPoli in Molfetta against CUS Bari.
