There are no mincing words to describe the performance of Pallacanestro Trieste, capable of wasting the treasure of success in the first leg and the chance of passing to the Round of 16 with a test devoid of character and clarity. The shock start, an incredible partial of 4-22, was the harbinger of a disaster waiting to happen: an exhausted team, weak in defense and confusing in attack, who approached the challenge with an unacceptable sufficiency at these levels.
The reaction that led to the -8 in the middle of the race and then to the overtaking at the beginning of the last quarter was the gasp of those who tried to remedy a fire that they themselves had started. Having thrown away a qualification already in your pocket after dominating race 1 is a serious faultwhich exposes all the limits of a group that today appears presumptuous and incapable of managing pressure. On Sunday against Cantù we will play for a place in the top eight at the end of the first round then it will be Hungary again, Tuesday 13 January at 5.30pm, to try to grab this qualification by the skin of our teeth.
Nightmare first quarter
Two turnovers by Brooks and Ruzzier at the start, Darthard and Barnes don’t take advantage of it by forcing three points. Somogyi and Uthoff then break the deadlock it is the host formation that decisively takes command of the operations with four consecutive free throws from Darthard and Holt’s basket to make it 2-8 after 3′. Gonzalez raises the quintet by inserting Toscano-Anderson for Brown but it is Skeens, splendidly assisted by Somogyi, who becomes the protagonist with the baskets of 4-12. Five minutes into the game and it’s already time-out time.
Szolnoky a segno con la tripla di Somogyi, Trieste struggled to get into the match (lost ball for Toscano-Anderson) and in the 7th minute it slipped to 4-22 thanks to two baskets from Darthard and a triple from Skeens. Brown, Deangeli and Candussi for Ramsey, Uthoff and Brooks then Moretti for Ruzzier. Moretti scores the triple, Candussi and Deangeli score from the line, Toscano-Anderson again with three points for the 13-22 which closes the first quarter.
Rudner’s bomb interrupts the red and white partial, Krnjajski’s free throws and Darthard’s basket bring the guest lead back to double figures at 16-32. Trieste struggles to keep up the pace, Szolnoki maramaldizes and with a further partial they reach their maximum lead at 18-39 after 4′. Uthoff, Toscano-Anderson and Brooks for the counterbreak that brings the red and whites back to within 11 at 29-40 with 2’37” on the clock of a first half which with Deangeli’s final flash (five consecutive points) closes at 36-44.
Red and white comeback
The second half opened with Uthoff’s triple then, after Vrabac’s missed free throws, Ruzzier’s foul layup brought the home team back to just one possession. Everything to do again at 42-44, Skeens and then Darthard and Holt restart a Szolnoki who has the strength to extend to 45-53. The shock, again, thanks to Uthoff who with 5 consecutive points keeps the red and whites in touch at 50-55: Trieste tries but fails to complete the recovery. Rudner’s triple brings the Hungarians back first to 57-64 and then to 61-67, Somogyi’s triple right at the siren closes the third quarter at 66-70. The overtaking at the start of the last quarter signed by Deangeli after Ramsey’s triple. Darthard Ramsey three-pointer, then Krnjajski and Darthars again to bring the guests back ahead at 74-78.
Szolnok is the segno
Five minutes to play and it’s a real battle on the parquet: Somogyi scores the 76-82 with 4′ to go, on which Gonzalez calls a time-out. Trieste tries but Krnjajski and Skeens extend it to 78-86 with 2’16” to play, the Toscano-Anderson triple misses and it is Skeens again who scores the 78-88 which effectively closes the match. The last seconds are useful only to define the result, ends 80-89 to the disappointment of the small audience present in the PalaRubini stands.
The scoreboard
Pallacanestro Trieste – Szolnoki 80-89 (13-22, 36-44, 66-70)
Trieste Basketball: Ruzzier 3 (1/2, 0/1), Brown 7 (1/2, 0/3), Ramsey 18 (5/8, 2/7), Uthoff 15 (3/5, 3/5), Brooks 4 (2/2, 0/1). Moretti 11 (3/4 from three), Toscano-Anderson 10 (1/2, 2/4), Deangeli 9 (2/3), Candussi 3 (1/1, 0/4). Ne: Iannuzzi, Ross, Sissoko. All. Gonzalez.
Szolnok: Somogyi 12 (3/6, 2/4), Holt 4 (2/4, 0/2), Krnjajski 8 (2/7, 0/4), Skeens 17 (7/12), Barnes (0/1, 0/2). Darthard 33 (5/8, 5/10), Molnar, Vrbac 6 (2/6, 0/1), Rudner 9 (0/2, 3/5), Ne: Horvath. Under. Vedran.
Referees: Salins (Let), Pesic (Srb), Yilmaz (Tur).
Note: Thu Tri 18/21, Sat 17/22. Rimb: Tri 29 (Brooks 7), 42 (Skeens 12). Ass: Tri 16 (Toscano-Anderson 6), Sat 19 (Somogyi 10).
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