A last round of the EuroCup that had nothing more to say in terms of ranking for Venice and Hamburg already out of the playoffs. Despite this, at the Edel-Optics.De Arena, Reyer played a decent match and with the contribution of the whole team closed their European journey with an away victory. The orogranata led by 11 points (35-46) at the end of the first half, they were overtaken at the end of the third period at 63-61, then in the last half above all a sensational Marco Spissu together with Amedeo Tessitori gave the owners the decisive push home, closing the match with the score of 83-90. Neven Spahija leaves captain Andrea De Nicolao sitting in the rotations, giving space to the men on the bench like Alex O’Connell (8 points with 2 triples) and Giga Janelidze 5 points with 2/2 from the field who make the most of the minutes played, contributing to the orogranata success. As mentioned, the two Italian national teams take care of the rest: Spissu, author of 25 points (4/5 from two, 3/6 from three and 8/9 from free throws) to which he also adds 5 assists and Tessitori with 15 points and 5 rebounds . Venice ends the European season with a record of 8 wins and 10 losses.
FIRST QUARTER
Good start for Venezia ahead at 4-8 in the 3rd minute with 6 points and 1 assist from Tessitori, the absolute protagonist. Hamburg quickly equalized at 8 in the 4th minute, but Casarin with five points in a row gave Reyer the 8-13 in the 5th minute. The orogranata maintain a 6-point lead at 10-16 in the 6th minute thanks to Tucker. O’Connell, little used in this last period, also contributes to the lagoon attack, 12-18 in the 7th minute. The home team made a 5-0 break, returning to 17-18 in the 9th minute with Reece’s basket. The first quarter ends at 20-21 with points from Brooks and Meisner.
SECOND QUARTER
Alex O’Connell’s frontal bomb opens, King responds, again from long range, 23-24 in the 11th minute. Simms’ first basket makes it 25-29 in the 13th minute in favor of Venezia who raises the defensive intensity and in attack also finds Janelidze’s place, 25-31 in the 15th minute. Coach Spahija’s team gets the maximum advantage with Spissu’s 2+1 and Simms’ free throw, 29-37 in the 16th minute. Hamburg tries to come back, but Casarin responds to the German mini-partial of 4-0 and the second quarter ends with Janelidze’s triple from the corner as well as Spissu’s placed shot with Reyer ahead 35-46.
THIRD FOURTH
King’s basket opens and Mathews’ bomb opens, the lagoon response comes from Heidegger and then Dziewa scores the triple to make it 43-49 in the 22nd minute. Hamburg closes the gap point after point, 51-52 midway through the third period. Reyer moves the score again with Tucker and Wiltjer, 51-56 at 26′, but the excellent Christmas finds five points in a row and scores 56 at 27′. In the moment of need, Venezia goes to Spissu, the triple from the Italian point guard makes it 58-61 in the 29th minute, but another draw comes with a triple from Hughes and then the German lead from Krause for 63-61 at the end of the third quarter.
FOURTH ROOM
Game on the edge of balance, 65-65 in the 33rd minute which was broken by free throws from six consecutive points by Marco Spissu, 65-71 in the 34th minute. O’Connell’s second triple puts Uamana back 8 points ahead, but the usual Christmas responds. At 35′ the score is 70-76 with Hamburg in possession who scores the -3 bomb with Heinrichs, but Venezia finds offensive solutions again from Spissu and Brooks, 73-80 at 36′. Two more points arrive from Tessitori after a fundamental offensive rebound, 73-82 in the 37th minute. The layup and then the bomb from a super Spissu definitively close the score. Reyer wins on German soil: 83-90 the final.