Fourth consecutive victory and lead in the standings alone, at least for a few hours, for the Giorgio Tesi Group Pistoia, which clears the parquet of the 2B Control Drills with a score of 69-73 at the end of a hard and fought match. First two quarters at a very high pace on both sides, with the GTG trying to give a first push with a great Utomi (22 points in the first half, 28 overall) and the Sicilians who remain there, responding blow for blow . When hostilities resume, the game becomes hard and dirty, with great balance until the final seconds: the plays of Magro and Riismaa are decisive, but above all the mental strength of a collective that confirms itself as granite, led by a Saccaggi who celebrated in the best of the ways his 150 appearances in red and white.
FIRST HALF. Ready, go and the red and white roar with Wheatle’s three-point game and Utomi’s excellent painting work, while the Sicilians reply with Childs and Wiggs. Riismaa releases the first missile of the day to keep Pistoia ahead, Trapani remains in the wake and hits the 5 consecutive Wiggs. The US winger is unleashed and extends his personal streak to 10 yarn points, which are worth the first advantage of the locals (16-11) and the time-out of coach Brienza. The GTG shakes with two consecutive bombs by Utomi, who flies in double figures, as well as with the first center of Saccaggi, but the 2B Control remains ahead of a glue: 22-21.
The red and white took the lead with the first points of Del Chiaro and Davis, prompt response of the islanders with the three-point game of Tomasini. The good plays of Davis and Riismaa counterbalance the 4 points of Childs, then Mollura from the arc “cancels” the bomb of Captain Della Rosa. +4 Pistoia with Wheatle and Davis, Trapani does not break down and impacts at an altitude of 36. Utomi and Wheatle return to the chair with a 6-0 break that forces coach Parente to the minute, but the use of the GTG knows no breaks and signs others 6 points of excellent workmanship extend the partial to 12-0. In the final 2B Control tries to reconnect with the match with the bomb on Wiggs’ siren: we go to the locker room at 44-50.
SECOND HALF. It starts with Childs’ three-point game, then it’s Childs again to reply to Riismaa. After two quarters of high intensity the attacks get stuck. With patience Pistoia keeps the advantage thanks to Saccaggi and Wheatle, Trapani hits the target only with Childs who, however, finds his fourth foul prematurely. A phase of great confusion on the pitch, with the defenses definitely protagonists: the 2B Control is unlocked with a good action that is worth -1, the Giorgio Tesi Group can no longer find the way to the basket but resists: at the last break the score says 57-58.
Riismaa brings his team back to possession full of advantage, then the red and white defense flexes its muscles and Wheatle scores +5. Trapani comes back with an unsportsmanlike at least doubtful that yields four points, while in the most difficult moment Pistoia finds the first, very precious, Magro’s basket. The Sicilians impact with Romeo, the Pistoians rely on Utomi who returns to strike from long distance on the siren. The GTG smells the blood and bites with another triple, this time from Della Rosa. Childs revives the 2B Control, the guests give everything but miss the knockout blow on a couple of occasions In the line Trapani returns to -2 and subsequently to -1, Pistoia makes 1/2 with Magro but finds an offensive rebound from Riismaa who worth gold. This time Magro is surgical and makes no mistake for the +4 to 9 “from the end, which sanctions the red and white victory: the final reads 69-73.
2B CONTROL TRAPANI – GIORGIO TESI GROUP PISTOIA 69-73
(22-21, 44-50, 57-58)
TRAPANI: Biordi 4, Wiggs 24, Tomasini 9, Childs 18, Romeo 6, Guyana, Longo, Mollura 3, Massone 4, Minore. All. Relative.
PISTOIA: Della Rosa 6, Utomi 26, Divac, Saccaggi 6, Del Chiaro 2, Magro 6, Allinei, Davis 6, Wheatle 11, Riismaa 10. All. Brienza.
REFEREES: Ciaglia, Puccini, Di Martino.
NOTE: Partials 22-21, 22-29, 13-8, 12-15. Out for 5 fouls: Childs.
Source: Pistoia Basket press office
