Unahotels pays for another false start. Venice wins and enjoys the difference in baskets

REGGIO EMILIA 87VENICE 92UNAHOTELS REGGIO EMILIA Winston 30 (8/11, 3/10), Barford 10 (2/3, 1/7), Grant (0/1 from 3), Chillo, Faried 6 (2/3); Uglietti 9 (2/2, 1/1), Smith 2 (1/3, 0/4), Vitali 3 (1/2 from 3), Faye 11 (5/8), Cheatham 16 (2/4, 4/10). Ne: Gallo, Fainke. Coach: Priftis. UMANA REYER VENEZIA Ennis 15 (6/11, 0/2), Wheatle 6 (1/2, 1/1), Parks 9 (4/5, 0/1), Wiltjer 10 (1/4, 2/3), Kabengele 17 (5/14, 0/3); McGruder 20 (2/5, 5/5), Casarin 3 (0/2, 1/2), Tessitori 4 (2/2), Simms 7 (1/4, 1/3), Moretti 1 (0/1 3-pointers). N/A: Fernandez, Janelidze. Coach: Spahija. Referees: Sahin, Bongiorni, Patti Scores: 15-25, 45-48; 66-72 Notes: Tl: Reg 13/21 Fri 18/27. Refund: Reg 36 (Faye 8) Fri 42 (Kabengele 15). Meeting: Reg 13 (Uglietti and Winston 4) Fri 14 (3 with 4). Technical F.: Parks and Vitali at 24' 30'' (56-60), Priftis at 28' 20'' (62-68), Tessitori at 28' 30'' (62-70). Exit 5th row: Faried at 32' 50'' (73-73). Attendance 3.884

At least the basket difference could have been saved, which was +3 in the first leg, but there was nothing to be done. Reggio Emilia basketball yield to Venice the two points and also loses the advantage in the direct clash that now, with the lagoon team at -2, could have a rather high specific weight in the playoff sprint. A real shame, because after having finished even at -16 (17-33) under the blows of McGruder and his teammates, the Unahotels had been able to put everything back into question dragged by Winston, going to the break in the slipstream (45-48) thanks to Uglietti's triple. Then after a nervous third quarter, with technicians saddled both to the Reggio bench and to Tessitori, the red and whites had managed to get ahead with Barford (73-72 at 31'), but without ever managing to get the ball rolling.

Just at the best moment, referee Sahin pulled a Faried breakthrough out of his hat: a basket of the extension cancelled and a fifth foul for 'Manimal'. With Faye already burdened with 4 fouls, Priftis had to struggle for several minutes before putting 'Momo' back on the court. And at that moment Venice was more lucid and, first with Ennis, then with McGruder's step-back triple, landed the fatal blow (85-90) with 59 seconds left. The last possessions were not managed at their best, first Winston forced a 3-pointer when a 2-pointer would have been enough to save the differential. Then - after Ennis's error at the free throw line - Cheatham's triple didn't hit the target. At the end of the match, Priftis was criticized by a fan for his choice to shoot a three-pointer in the penultimate play: the coach replied, a squabble ensued, which was quickly ended also by Fucà's intervention, who 'took' Priftis and accompanied him to the locker room.

Returning to the challenge, it was lost on the details and on that handicap start - not the first this year - which then required an extra effort. In the analysis we must not forget that it was the seventh match in 22 days and we cannot be too harsh in our judgments. The team, even last night, gave everything they had in the tank.

Now our heads must be turned to tomorrow, when at 20pm the qualification for the next round will be decided in 'Basketball Champions League' against Turkish side Petkimspor. A win is needed to reach the quarter-finals, but a defeat of up to 11 points could be enough, provided Tenerife beat Manresa in the other Group K match.