The number of consecutive victories of Assigeco Piacenza stops at five, this time defeated at home by Reale Mutua Torino. The heavy absences of captain Gherardo Sabatini and Nemanja Gajic complicate a diffiile game that the red and whites play with pride, leading in scoring for almost the entire match. Despite the reworked roster, coach Salieri’s boys turn out an excellent performance, but in the final they have to surrender to the punctual baskets of the Piedmontese team. Mvp of the evening Simone Pepe, author of 23 points and the decisive basket that puts an end to one of the most exciting matches of the championship. Honorable mention in the ranks of Piacenza for Jacopo Soviero, capable of making up for Sabatini’s absence with a performance of great intensity and sacrifice. Hoping to recover the injured players as soon as possible, Assigeco faces the next match of the season, where they will try to return to victory in the away game in Rome.
FIRST FOURTH
First basket of the evening by De Vico who opens the dance for the guests, but Miaschi’s prompt response arrives from beyond the arc. Jackson and Guariglia put Turin back in front, then came Soviero’s first points from the field of the season and Miaschi’s dunk on the counterattack. Jumper from De Vico’s midrange, but the initiatives of Soviero and Miaschi Pascolo bring the hosts back to +3 (11-8). Assigeco revs up the engine and tries to escape, Miaschi and McGusty accelerate and take the lead to double figures (22-10). Pepe’s free throws and Vencato’s triple bring the guests closer together, but Skeens keeps the Piedmontese at a distance with two baskets in the area (27-15). At the end of the quarter, Pepe takes the chair and draws a go-1, makes 2/2 from the line and comes close to the sensational basket on the siren at the end of the quarter (27-20).
SECOND FOURTH
Cesana finds the back of the net from the arch, then Poser in the line brings the guests back to -10. Skeens and Schina exchange baskets before Miaschi’s winning backdoor, but Pepe’s transition triple brings the visitors deficit back to single digits (34-27). The percentages from the field are lowered, with the attacks struggling more than in the first quarter until the conclusion from Cesana’s corner brings Piacenza up +10. The Piedmontese didn’t give up and responded with Poser’s go-1, but Pascolo found one of his typical supports in the area (41-32). Pepe, Mayfield and Poser bring Turin closer together, Assigeco replies with four consecutive points from McGusty. A few seconds after the quarter and Mayfield punishes the white-red-blue defense from the arc, then McGusty’s last shot of the first half finds no luck (47-41).
