An excellent first half is not enough for Pallacanestro Trieste to maintain their unbeaten record and record. Without the affected Ross and Brooks, the blanket is too short given the physical condition of the returning Reyes; Reggio Emilia, almost perfect and driven by an irrepressible Winston with 32 points, passes 85-97.
Almost perfect first quarter for the red and whites, but two sensational mistakes at the end of the half give Reggio 5 points (25-19).
Christian, in the absence of Ross and Brooks, relies on the Italians, but only gets a little something from Bossi: an excellent Johnson under the boards brings Trieste forward, but Reggio always responds by taking advantage of an excellent day from the arc of Winston and Vitali. Brown and Ruzzier try, but Cheetam from the corner makes it -1 for the Reggio Emilia team at the end of the first half.
In the second half the red and whites, despite a superlative Uthoff (24 points), lost themselves in the usual shooting gallery. The winger is a judgement, Ruzzier with a juggling basket is even +8 at 63-55. It’s the last sharp one, because Priftis’ team is fresher and more athletic, and immediately recovers, and at the beginning of the final quarter he puts the arrow with Vitali. Trieste no longer has any, especially in defense where Christian tries to invent a solution with five wingers without luck to try to contain Winston. In attack the shots no longer come in (5/19 from three in the second half), Uthoff tries once again to carry the team on his shoulders but it’s not enough. 85-97 and first defeat, despite a more than good performance at times and dominance in rebounds.
