Pallacanestro Trieste Secures Prestigious Victory Over Tenerife

Trieste, Italy – Pallacanestro Trieste concluded their European campaign with a hard-fought 82-76 victory over La Laguna Tenerife on Wednesday, a result that, although not enough for playoff advancement, provided a significant morale boost for the Italian side. Tenerife had already secured the top spot in the group, while ERA Nymburk claimed second place with a win over Gran Canaria. The victory, played at the Palasport “Cesare Rubini” in Trieste, was particularly meaningful given Trieste’s ongoing challenges with injuries and a depleted roster.

The game saw the debut of Australian player Josh Bannan, who made a positive impression despite the team’s overall struggles with availability. Toscano-Anderson was sidelined with a back injury, adding to the list of absent players for coach Taccetti. Alessandro Frosini, the sporting director of Reyer Venezia, was also in attendance, ahead of Venezia’s upcoming game against Trieste on Sunday.

First Quarter Battle

The opening minutes saw a back-and-forth affair. Sissoko opened the scoring with a pair of free throws for Trieste, followed by a three-pointer from Deangeli, giving them an early 7-3 lead. Tenerife responded with a run of their own, taking an 11-7 advantage. Ruzzier answered with a three-pointer, tying the game at 10-10. Further scores from Iannuzzi and Deangeli, including a three-point play, pushed Trieste ahead 18-19. The quarter concluded with a three-pointer from Mills, formerly of the San Antonio Spurs, giving Tenerife a 20-27 lead.

Trieste Fights Back in the Second

Trieste demonstrated improved defensive effort in the second quarter, limiting Tenerife to just ten points. Key contributions came from Uthoff and Ramsey, alongside the first points from newcomer Bannan. The team mounted a comeback, erasing a deficit of 29-37 to tie the game at 37-37 heading into halftime.

Tenerife Regains Control in the Third

The third quarter began with a basket from Sissoko, putting Trieste ahead 39-37. However, Tenerife quickly responded with an 11-0 run, extending their lead to 39-46. Uthoff broke the scoring drought for Trieste, but Mills continued to be a threat, hitting another three-pointer to give Tenerife a 47-56 advantage. Tenerife maintained their momentum, closing the quarter with a seven-point lead.

Ramsey Leads Dramatic Fourth-Quarter Comeback

The final quarter witnessed a remarkable performance from Ramsey, who scored 19 points to propel Trieste to victory. The score tightened from 59-64 to 74-68 with just over two minutes remaining. A series of three-pointers from Van Beck, Ramsey, and Doornekamp kept the game close, resulting in a 77-74 scoreline with 1:19 left on the clock. A free throw from Ramsey extended the lead to 78-74. Abromaitis responded for Tenerife, narrowing the gap to 78-76. Ramsey then converted two free throws, increasing the lead to 80-76 with 30 seconds remaining. A crucial missed shot by Van Beck, followed by a foul on Ramsey, sealed the win for Trieste as Ramsey calmly sank both free throws.

Key Stats and Performances

Ramsey led all scorers with 31 points for Pallacanestro Trieste. For La Laguna Tenerife, Van Beck contributed 15 points, while Mills added 9 in his debut with the team. Trieste dominated the boards, securing 40 rebounds compared to Tenerife’s 32. Trieste shot 24 of 39 from two-point range (61.5%) and 5 of 18 from three-point range (27.8%), while Tenerife shot 20 of 37 from two (54.1%) and 9 of 35 from three (25.7%). Trieste was nearly perfect from the free-throw line, converting 19 of 21 attempts (90.5%), while Tenerife made 9 of 12 (75%).

The win provides a positive end to Trieste’s European season, showcasing resilience and the emergence of recent talent like Bannan. For Tenerife, the game had less significance, as they had already secured the top spot in the group.

Box Score:

PALLACANESTRO TRIESTE 82
LA LAGUNA TENERIFE 76
(20-27; 17-10; 18-25; 27-14)
PALLACANESTRO TRIESTE: Toscano-Anderson ne, Martucci ne, Cinquepalmi ne, Deangeli 12, Uthoff 9, Ruzzier 5, Sissoko 8, Candussi 2, Iannuzzi 9, Bannan 6, Ramsey 31. All. Taccetti.
LA LAGUNA TENERIFE: Fernandez 7, Van Beck 15, Tieppo Huertas 5, Scrubb, Bordon, Abromaitis 9, Sangare 2, Giedraitis 14, Alderete 4, Guerra 3, Doornekamp 8, Mills 9. All. Vidorreta.
NOTES:
Tiri da 2: Trieste 24/39, Tenerife 20/37
Tiri da 3: Trieste 5/18, Tenerife 9/35
Tiri liberi: Trieste 19/21, Tenerife 9/12
Rimbalzi: Trieste 40, Tenerife 32

Looking ahead, Pallacanestro Trieste will turn their attention back to domestic competition, facing Reyer Venezia on Sunday. This will be a crucial game for Trieste as they continue their pursuit of a playoff spot in the Italian league.

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