The anxiety has disappeared, Edilnol is back together with the ex-sick Hawkins: the 100-67 at the Stella Azzurra Roma was the test of strength that the Rossoblu environment needed after Bergamo. Not only is it good for morale, but also for the classification of the black group that will resume for Biella on Sunday 9 at the Forum against Bergamo. Now the pressure is all on the Capitoline, only to zero points. And the relief in the eyes of Iacopo Squarcina comes half from the goal difference with rivals, a reassuring +33 in the event of a tie, and half from the performance. The best? With a Carroll on the threshold of the triple double (25 points, 11 rebounds, 9 assists), there was a punctual in attack and solid defense: 17 points at 17 is not something for everyone.
Hawkins is at the two-ball and the rossoblù quintet is the most titular of all with Berdini, Miaschi, Carroll and Barbante together with number 23. The Blue Star responds with the centimeters and kilos of Mabor and Marcius under the basket and expert hands of Rullo and the hot ones of Thompson, together with the play and captain Nikolic. The beginning exudes nervousness with the defenses that close but above all with the shots that do not enter. After the skirmishes from the line between Carroll and Marcius, Barbante opens fire and resumes from the arc where he left off in Bergamo: 5-1. But Edilnol can’t escape: Marcius’s dunk and Thompson’s triple mend at 7-6 before Berdini’s moment opens: the triple from the dribble is worth 10-6, the one shortly after scores 17-10 , maximum advantage widened by Miaschi on +9. The end of the period looks like the start of a mess, with guests going back to -4. But Berdini (11 in the period) still pushes them back from the arc. And if it closes on a reassuring 27-17 it is thanks to a siren bomb by captain Laganà, whose playing time is always carefully measured.
A 2/2 by Bertetti who tears a rebound and suffers unsportsmanlike is worth +12 at the beginning of the second quarter. Rome produces something under the basket, with Marcius and with Thioune and Squarcina opens the evening timeout sequence after a minute and a half at 29-21. It is of little use because Thompson collects fouls and free throws and brings Rome back to -4, with Rullo putting the bomb of 33-30 that makes the rossoblù agitate again. But with Barbante on the bench for three fouls, well replaced by D’Almeida (after a “shampoo” on the bench by Niccolai) and an exemplary Carroll playing for the team, Biella found breath and courage. The American also scores two pure-class baskets, as well as arming Miaschi’s hands for the triple of the new +10 in transition. Hawkins’ +12 is a masterpiece of action with D’Almeida’s on-the-fly assist, closing the period with a quick tap-in (and a notch below the Forum ceiling) after Berdini’s shot on the iron. It is 53-39 and Edilnol is with their head and heart on the court, Hawkins (8 points and 6 rebounds in 11 minutes) included.
The demonstration also comes at the resumption of the match: the +13 becomes in a whisker +21 with a four-point game by Carroll to show the way. Squarcina sees his team in control but keeps the tension high because after D’Arcangeli’s timeout after three and a half minutes at 66-45 it is Rullo who tries to keep his team afloat: he scores eight points in the second half of the period that ends. with a partial guest of 6-1 and is worth 74-57 with which the last ten minutes open. There is still time to tremble when Carroll loses a ball on the throw-in and the baby Giordano (his duel with Berdini we will probably see again soon) scores from three. But it is the spark that rekindles the red and blue fire: Bertetti scores from the bow after having missed three shots in a row, D’Almeida scores two dunks, Pollone adds a triple and 10-0 in a minute brings the scoreboard to 84-60 and puts an end to the fight for the colon. The one for the goal difference remains that the Blue Star is played with all its youngsters, focusing on determination and running. But Biella wins that too: the final +33 is a good margin to bring as a dowry for the rest of the group that will see the crossing between Stella Azzurra and Bergamo in Lazio on Sunday. A Lombard victory would be the best thing for Edilnol. But in the meantime you can smile for one evening.
Edilnol Biella-Stella Azzurra Rome 100-67
Edilnol: Berdini 17 (2/3, 3/4), Miaschi 16 (4/5, 2/5), Carroll 25 (5/6, 2/4), Hawkins 8 (4/5, 0/3), Barbante 5 (1/6, 1/2), Laganà 7 (1/4, 1/3), Bertetti 8 (0/2, 2/5), Pollone 3 (1/1 of three), Vincini, D ‘ Almeida 11 (5/9), Aimone, Loro. Squarcina coach.
Blue Star: Nikolic 2 (1/7, 0/2), Thompson 16 (4/8, 1/5), Reel 17 (1/3, 4/8), Mabor (0/3), Marcius 13 (6 / 6), Giordano 8 (2/7, 1/4), Innocenti 2 (1/1, 0/1), Thioune 6 (3/3), Pugliatti (0/7), Visintin 3 (1/5, 0/2), Garland (0/1), Ndzie (0/1). Coach: D’Arcangeli.
Partials: 27-17, 26-22, 21-18, 26-10.
From two: Biella 22/40, Rome 19/52. From three: Biella 12/27, Rome 6/22. Free throws: Biella 20/28, Rome 11/16.
Rebounds: Biella 44 (Carroll 11), Rome 45 (Giordano, Pugliatti, Nikolic, Thioune and Marcius 5). Assist: Biella 18 (Carroll 9), Roma 8 (Roller 3).