The metamorphosis from the ugly duckling to the magnificent swan is complete: Trieste also dominated game 2, 76-91 away from Forlì and is only one step away from the final. But if in match 1 Romagna can be considered as a partner in the red and white super match, this time Unieuro put everything and more, but it was not enough. Since Christian’s team is on a mission, it is almost infallible, good defense and has Michele Ruzzier playing as the third American.
With the Trieste point guard on the pitch, the team has order but is also unpredictable. They immediately had a double-digit lead, and only a big Zampini ensured a game, because Forlì was betrayed by the nervousness of the 41-year-old Cinciarini and the only American Xavier Johnson. In the second half, with the Romagna crowd the sixth man on the pitch, the home team was able to return to -6 with difficulty. At that point, Trieste, who also had a lot from Brooks and a Reyes who was not at his best, returned to the expert hands of Ruzzier who scored from 3 and extinguished any possible desire for a comeback. 15/33 in total from the distance for the red and white, which on Friday in front of a friendly public can close it and fly to the final.
A final where a Friulian feat is needed to make it a derby, as seen in the first two matches of the Cantù-Udine series. Apu, who played poorly but was short and inaccurate especially with playmakers Caroti and Monaldi (again 3/15 from three as a pair), also lost in game 2 in Desio. Down by 10 after the first quarter, they stayed at that distance throughout the game and even the final gap was 10: 76-66. Vertemati holds a good Cannon, while Cantù, who is very physical, manages to score difficult baskets every time he finds himself in difficulty with American Hickey, with Moraschini and co. guard Bucarelli, who shot 4/5 from the arc. Without Clark, still in the pits for two months due to a calf problem, and without Delia due to technical reasons, a success is needed on Friday in Carnera to try to extend the series and hope for an epic comeback. After almost perfect weather until March, it would be a shame to close it in front of a friendly public.
Editing by Andrea Zorzini