The Italian Cup final will be in EA7 Milan and Ge.Vi. Naples. Olimpia dominates Reyer Venezia thanks to a first half with 60 points scored. Shields, 28 points with 6/12, but not only him, give Milan their sixth final in the last ten editions. Napoli wins a crazy match against Reggio Emilia which loses itself on the finish line banner and is beaten in extra time when Pullen (21 points), Brown (14) and a monumental Sokolowski (15 points, his triple that sends the teams to extra time, with 11 rebounds) give the Neapolitans the historic final.
Tomorrow is finals day. At 2.15pm the women’s match between Reyer Venezia (56-52 in the semi-final against Geas Sesto San Giovanni) against Famila Schio (67-58 in the semi-final against Ragusa). Followed by the men’s one. In the middle is the press conference by Umberto Gandini, president of Lega Basket, who has many reasons to be satisfied on and off the pitch. The first of all is the attendance data for the two semi-finals: 12,207 spectators. An even higher turnout is expected for the final.
EA7 EMPORIO ARMANI MILAN – UMANA VENEZIA 100-77
Balanced start to the match, 6-6 in the quarter. Melli raises his voice under the basket and Napier finds Milan’s first advantage: 12-7 in the sixth. Nine points in a row from Shields (with two triples) and Flaccadori’s support expand the lead to 23-12. At the tenth it’s 31-20 with Tonut’s triple from eight meters. Milan dictates the pace, Venice struggles in attack and is doubled in the score after less than 13 minutes of play: 40-20. Olimpia doesn’t let go and almost doubles their opponents again at 49-25 in the 17th. At long break it’s 60-37Shields has already scored 22 points for Milan with 5/6 threes (there will be 28 at the end of the game).
Venezia returns to the field with a completely different spirit and determination and scores a 9-0 run to make it 60-46 in the 25th minute. Olimpia resets and starts again: 70-49 at the 28th, 74-58 at the 30th. Reyer doesn’t have great solutions in attack, Milan controls and extends 89-69 with baskets and assists from Napier (17 in the end with 7 assists) and triples from Voigtmann (11 points). It ends 100-77 and Milan flies to the final.
UNAHOTELS REGGIO EMILIA – GE.VI. NAPLES 78-87 (dts)
The two coaches, Priftis for Reggio Emilia, and Milicic for Napoli rely on the two 2005 starting quintet, Faye and Due Baar, a sign that they strongly believe in young people. Charlie Recalcatiformer coach of Cantù, Varese, Siena and the national team, told us before the match that he “appreciated this innovation that foreign coaches bring to Italy.
They have personality, they bring new ideas and you shouldn’t be afraid that they will take away your place, rather it should be a stimulus for the many good Italian coaches.”
Reggio Emilia starts strong: 11-2 in the fifth. Napoli struggles in attack, Reggio goes 19-10 and ends the first period ahead 24-14. Milicic is electric on the bench and Napoli nibbles away five points at the start of the second quarter, but Reggiana finds continuity in attack to make it 30-21 in the 14th. The match heats up, Napoli scores with more solutions and gets closer to 36-35 with Pullen’s triple. At long break it’s 41-39. After the break along the Ge.Vi. finds the first equalizer of the whole match (41-41), but it lasts a moment. Reggio Emilia returns 49-41. The pace increases on both sides, Chillo and Lever find precious points for their respective teams. At the third break it’s 58-53. The Neapolitans remain glued to their opponents, the two coaches play chess, often changing the starting lineup on the pitch. Milicic gets a technical foul and his team slips: 66-55 in the 34th. Reggio loses its long for. Five fouls. We fight for every ball, Ennis leads Napoli with four free throws to make it 71-70 with 90 seconds left. Weber scores the free throws to make it 73-70 at 59 seconds, Sokolowski hits a crazy triple and ties the score 73-73then recovers the ball and misses the winning shot.
We go to extra time and Napoli finds the first advantage of the whole match with the two free throws by Pullen (76-78) who then makes an impossible triple for 78-81. The former Brindisi player finished with 21 points, Brown crushed for 78-83. Reggio no longer has any. Brown (16 points) closes it again. Napoli wins 78-87 and wins his first, historic final. Sokolowski was monumental for the Neapolitans with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
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1970-01-01 00:00:00
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