Mortara does not betray with Opera 2 gold points for the second phase

Inspired by Muzio and Monacelli, Expo Inox hits the target in the direct confrontation, overturning even the -4 of the first leg

PARONA

It only counted to win and possibly with four or more points of difference and the Expo Inox Mortara, dragged by the excellent evening of Muzio and Monacelli, hit the mission by beating Opera in a direct battle in view of the probable landing of the lomellini in the second round Silver phase. However, there remains a faint hope of access to the Gold group, but in the meantime Mortara assures himself 12 points out of 16 in the eventual restart in the Silver group and awaits Busto Arsizio next Saturday to close the first phase.

An uphill start

Departure with the lights off for the Expo Inox which suffers from the liveliness, predictable, of Opera. In defense, the yellow and blue Lomellini struggle at the start and, to this, we must add that in attack Bazani and his companions at the start and for a long stretch they have more than wet powders. It is in this context of the match that the Milanese try the break in the middle of the period at 3-12 and 5-18. The load of fouls rises, with patience Mortara climbs the slope and a triple from Bazani, picking up a ball almost lost and then recovered by the team, is worth -3 (17-20) when it is in the last turn of the hand, then at the first break Opera keeps the advantage (19-23), but soon asks for a time out at the start of the second half when the Expo Inox reaches -2 (21-23). Opera now finds it much more difficult because the Mortarese defensive presence intensifies and definitively cancels the delay in the middle of the period (25-25). Nervousness reigns supreme as the teams struggle to find the way to the basket and, for Mortara, it is Garcia who fails some easy conclusions. Opera tries to lengthen the defense, Muzio punishes it with a three-point game, then a triple from Bazani on the last possession of the period sets the 35-31 mid-match.

Bazani and Garcia grow up

Mortara restarts tonic, Bazani immediately places a frontal tracer of three, Garcia makes peace with the basket, the Milanese take a technician for protests (40-31), but do not let go and repeat themselves several times with the defense extended to everything field. Expo Inox fails to give the shoulder, often plays the ball at the limits of 24 “, but with alternating results and the match remains open (47-42 at 27 ‘). Some good plays send Mortara on 53-42 who, however, does not manage the last attacks well and arrives at the last stop at 53-45. So for a long time you stay on the two possessions away (61-57), then the Expo Inox snaps to 70-60 with 2’13 from the end, resists the pressing and systematic foul of Opera and coldly closes it from the line 79- 69. –

Fabio Babetto