Good proof of character of Trapani Basketball, which returns to home success against Urania Milano, regaining confidence but above all important men such as Palermo and Massone, ultimately decisive.
Basketball Trapani – Urania Milano: 90-81 ( 24-16, 50-38,67-61)
Basketball Trapani: Biordi 4, Wiggs 14, Childs 19, Romeo 10, Mollura 7, Massone 13, Palermo 7, Taflaj 16
Urania Milan: Points 15, Bossi 13, Nikooic 19, Cipolla 3, Montano 7, Paci 4, Thomas 20
Trapani recovers Matteo Palermo and Federico Massone and together with them he launches himself towards the second consecutive home match against Urania Milano, in an attempt to return to win at home after the only success of the first against Biella. The Lombard of the former Bossi immediately start well with the 4-0 with a brace from Piunti, but the triple from Romeo and the energy of Wiggs and Childs immediately overturns Trapani, who escapes 11-6 at 3 ‘. Thomas shortens to 5 ′ on -1, bringing the two teams closer, but the grenades put the turbo back, putting in a new break with Massone and Biordi to go up 20-14 2 minutes from the first siren. Coach Villa’s time out is of little use to the Lombards, who still hit the grenade wall and close the first quarter at 24-16 for the locals.
Nikolic’s first 3 points try to give the Milanese breath, but the rotations of Trapani keep the energy of the clubs high and they score on several fronts by holding down the accelerator. Palermo, and the American duo run at their best, escaping on 35-24 at 13 ‘, before the new timeout of coach Villa. Milan tries to change defense and rotate his longs, finding a modicum of continuity to go back to 17 ‘on -5 (39-34). The timeout now calls him Parente, who triggers the right attitude in his own to close the second quarter well. The holding in defense combined with the good vein of Taflaj and the lunges of Wiggs, give Trapani the extension for the maximum advantage on 50-38 at the end of the time.
The 6-0 in Milan opens the third period and gives breath back to the Lombard attempt, definitely more on the ball. It takes Romeo’s triple to shake the grenades a bit, which try to find compactness to stay ahead 56-49 at 25 ‘. Thomas and Nikolic keep the pressure high in the local defense, inducing Mollura and his teammates to take a few too many fouls to stem Milan’s aggression, which blow by blow mends the tear and at 28 ‘returns to full speed at 58-56. The fight is tight, the game is dirtier and the two coaches try to draw fresh strength from their bench. Thomas equalized it 90 seconds from the end, but Romeo’s flicker and Massone’s pad brought Trapani forward at 62-58 at the last turn of the fourth. Nikolic’s triple is reciprocated by Taflaj’s 3-point game and by Massone’s hand, which give the grenade a new extension to 67-61 which closes the third period.
Final 10 decisive minutes with Milan alive more than ever and Trapani holding on. Nikolic and Thomas are still scary, but Massone takes the chair, fans assists and sets up on his own, guaranteeing the grenade 74-66 in the 33rd minute. Trapani attacks well, but Bossi and Nikolic are relentless from distance, shortening to – 4 (78-74) with 5 minutes remaining. Milan is there, touches the -1 again from distance, but first Mollura and then Childs push it back strongly at 83-77 with 3 minutes from the end. The intensity is very high and Trapani remains well concentrated and fearless, well maintained by its two Americans and by an excellent Taflaj. Coach Villa draws in his for the last 100 seconds at 88-79 and try a last assault that Trapani however rejects with strength and character, stretching his hands on the match. It ends 90-81 among the choirs of the Palaconad for two heavy points that guarantee the grenade to hook Milan to 8 points in the classification.
