UDINE. Power of the free mind. With the play-offs in their pockets, the Old Wild West starts the second phase well by beating Unieuro Forlì 79-70 at Carnera after a game that started sleeping and ended up playing well.
Thirty-nine seconds it takes coach Boniciolli to call time-out. Because it smells of burning. Departure at a hundred at the time of Forlì, 9-0 tremendous, the speaker who calls “rally our boys” hoping to wake up the empty seats of the Carnera.
It was known, they were the risks of the second phase, an Italian-style mess born to let you play more games and where if you do well you can have more than one series with home factor in favor in the play-offs. That, in the year of closed sports halls, what counts.
But all the games are needed and you have to play them. The Old Wild West, which has a strong opponent in front of it, begins to defend in the middle of the first quarter.
Roderick and Giachetti are not opaque as in the Cup, the APU tries to respond with the bench: Schina, who when he sees Forlì is exalted, a strong-willed Noble and Italian.
Johnson? Two fouls immediately and then on the bench for a long time. First quarter result: 19-29. As seen, sacrosanct.
Then, however, with a triple from Johnson it is as if the DJ match and the APU match are starting all over again. Defense, an attack that is set in motion.
In short, the second phase will also be useless, but you can play carefree and maybe even have fun: 28-29 after 3 ‘of the second quarter, even 42-37 halfway through the match.
Coach Finetti, one of Boniciolli’s deputies, is the sixth man off the bench with “slips” on the spot and screams, Foulland plays with ardor, first and second phase.
And, again, Nobile in great evening or Deangeli who places 5 ‘super minutes. If he puts on a credible three-pointer and a stop and three-meter shot, the boy will make way.
And then above all the break Apu does it without Johnson, on the bench for a third fiscal foul whistled on him. Do you remember the Pawn troop planted in January for its leader’s Covid? Growth also means this.
The Unieuro starts again strong after the interval, the defense cages the attack of Udine and Landi also hits from outside. Here is a problem to be solved in a play-off key and the market will help in this.
Udine has a congenital defect: no long is able to defend on an equal role that comes out and pulls from three.
Turin, for example, has built its fortunes on this against the Bianconeri, Naples also in the Cup final.
Unieuro also tries to take advantage of it with Landi, but fails. And the Apu, with Foulland out for 3 fouls, must overcome.
Johnson returns and releases two triples, even Deangeli (the best) opens the box from the outside: 55-40 in the middle of the third quarter.
Baskets, defenses, on the field there are two good teams, who play free with their heads. Roderick is sublime with mouth-watering baskets, DJ replies.
Giuri, a sumptuous Giuri (19 points) as well, also an excellent Pellegrino who forces the Use of Forlì to the third foul. Even Mobio who, as at the end of the first quarter, invents a basket at the end of the third quarter that ends 67-62.
It’s an extra long. That the guys from the West start with a bang thanks to a triple from Italian and two free throws from Pellegrino: 72-62.
Apu would like to close it, he would also have three three-pointers to do it, he doesn’t but Ciccio is in one of those phases of a match in which he is dominant. And it takes all the rebounds.
When DJ places a stop and a star shot, it is clear that it will be tough for Forlì. In front there is a team in confidence who, last night realized after 5 ‘of play, discovered that with a clear mind you have more fun on the pitch.
To defend and attack. Example? With 4 ‘from the end Johnson misses a shot, catapults himself to rebound, with a “magata” Guri catches from the corner who places a three-point shot. Over, there’s only time for a screaming dunk from the usual Roderick.
Wednesday transfer of the APU to Naples. If desired, there would be a rematch of the Cup. But who knows, maybe the real one will make it to the playoffs. –