Menetti’s team goes to Palaverde 91-85 against Vef at the first in Europe: Sims is unleashed in the last quarter, but what a defense Jones
VILLORBA. And we also placed the Latvians in Riga. Leagues or Champions League little changes: Treviso Basket is killing them all. And, for a change, taming these opponents, all formidable shooters, was a huge effort, like the waste of mental and physical energy. But in the end, the wonderful character of this group emerged again, which knows how to overcome every moment of difficulty or even crisis. L
or we are seeing, Menetti is forging a Nutribullett of steel, which never folds: Sims still monumental, area totem, prop on which the blues have rested when taking flight towards a success that strengthens the hopes of arriving first in the group, in the first real night of the Cup after 10 years. This is also a date to be circled in red.
Yet, this is nothing new, I start Treviso with the handbrake on: 13 by Walker in the 4 ‘, just to appreciate (18 at the interval, then only 3 more): we notice a TvB already numb in defense, it is evident he does a lot struggling to defend on the perimeter and the Latvians, who as expected as soon as they can run and shoot from three, understand it immediately: and it is 8-13. From the time out our players come out with a 5-0 (triple from Casarin) which, however, does not affect the Olympic calm with which the expert Riga is on the pitch. Another bomb, by Akele, more basket than Dimsa and the first advantage arrives at 18-15. But there is little continuity: Nutribullet starts badly again after the first nap, gets a 5-0 which confirms again all the difficulties of the evening.
The tracers of Dimsa and Bortolani are expected and here are the two stops and shots from 6.75 that fix the counter-pass: 31-27, it is the 13 ‘. Fire in the pan: for now it remains a dispute without a master, with continuous alternation of advantages. The first crunches arrive at 16 ‘, another Latvian tear with 5 Curry points: 39-36. And always because of the excessive defensive carelessness of ours. The end of the period is then disastrous: Riga recovers the ball a couple of times and shoots from three in transition (10/18 in the middle of the game), with Riley’s bomb the partial is 8-0 and only the two free Sims to time expired set the -10 of the break.
After which we would like to review the best version of the blue and in fact here it is: two firecrackers by Soko (who has three fouls) and it is -4. But we are still there, there is a lack of continuity: Riga never breaks down, returns to +6 and here Treviso finally understands that it has to start putting its hands on it and increase the defensive pressure. The average drops from three of the guests, Dimsa and Jones give 57-56 in the 27th minute. And the unsportsmanlike in Hammonds (after Var) yields another 3 points. But there is no way: on +7 you get stuck again: two triples from Riley and everything to be redone.
Then Menetti tries the double center with Sims and Jones but changes little, the Vef remains stuck: 67-67 at 31 ‘. 10 Sims points will give you breath, even if there is always someone on the other side who shoots the bomb. Casarin misses the dunk of +7, Riga thanks and draws at 77. With the unsportsmanlike Madsen 4 points arrive, nothing to do: 81-80, 37 ‘. But now watch out: Russell’s alley oop for Jones, two old friends, is +7 at 38 ‘.
It is certainly not over: in a flash you go back to +2 and Dimsa takes care of it. +4 to -42 ”, Riley misses and Russell punishes him, then again Riley, stunned, loses the ball. A -7 ”on +6 and the ball is done. In Europe as in Italy Treviso is there and is proceeding quickly.