Dolomiti Energia-Unahotels 85-80: bitter final eight for Reggio. The adventure ends immediately

Reggio Emilia, 13 February 2025 – In the semi-finals of Trento goes to the Italian Cup, despite a strong-willed Unahotels that played a good match, probably coming in short of energy in the final, and suffering, in particular, because that's where the inertia of the match changed, after Faried's expulsion with 4 minutes to go, for a hard foul on Ellis. Cheatham hit consistently and, before the expulsion, Faried had towered for a long time under the boards. Winston went with alternating current. Barford did badly instead. 

Given what is at stake is the nervousness prevails in the initial phase of the confrontation. Little is scored, many mistakes are made, even in the tactical setup phase. It is no coincidence that the scoreboard, at half time, reads a meager: 8-10. A solid Faye then propels the first momentum of the contest: for the +7 of the 6th minute, which forces Galbiati, coach of the Atesini to call a time-out. A move that stops the Reggio Emilia rush, but does not produce other dividends. Thus, at the first siren, the score is set at 15-22. Great moment for Unahotels at the start of the second quarter. The Emilians take the double-digit margin with a 10-2 break that is worth +15 after two turns of the hands, with only Lamb keeping his team afloat. At this point, however, put on the ropes, Dolomiti Energia reacts vehemently: raising the defensive intensity to exponential levels and significantly improving the defensive intensity.

On the other hand, Pallacanestro Reggiana goes in total confusion and so the black and whites tornano in contact: 33-37. At this point, the one to lift the red and white fortunes is an unleashed Faried, who towers under the backboards on both sides of the court. The two teams thus go into the long break with Unahotels up by 2. When they return to the parquet, the leitmotif, until the 5th minute, is: blow for blow. With baskets of talent, rather than tactics, on both fronts. It is a magic moment of healthy basketball madness by Winston that subsequently gives a new double-digit advantage to Reggio, who in the last ten minutes takes home a small, but important, eight-point lead. An immediate 8-0 by Dolomiti Energia that equalizes: 64-64, after which no scoring for 4', until the double basket by Cheatham that interrupts the fast. The key moment of the match comes in the 6th minute: Faried commits a very hard foul on Ellis, hitting him in the face. For the referees it is a foul worthy of expulsion. In a flash, also counting a "technical" to Priftis, enraged by a subsequent whistle, and an offensive rebound naively conceded, Trento finds itself ahead by six points, and the inertia is all on its side. Furthermore, the red and whites also suffer an understandable physical decline and are no longer able to catch up with their opponents  

The little table

DOLOMITI ENERGIA: Ellis 12, Cale 22, Ford 11, Pecchia 2, Niang 18, Forray, Mawugbe, Lang 13, Zukauskas 7. Ne: Hassan. Coach: Galbiati UNAHOTELS: Barford 5, Gallo, Winston 25, Faye 8, Smith 8, Uglietti 4, Vitali, Faried 11, Grant, Chillo 3, Cheatham 16. Ne: Gallo and Fainke. Coach: Priftis. Referees: Michele Rossi, Alessandro Perciavalle, Christian Borgo Partials: 15-22, 42-44, 56-64 Notes: 3-pointers: Dolomiti Energia 9/30, Unahotels 10/25; free throws: Trento 16/17, Reggio Emilia 6/15. Faried was ejected with 4' to go.