Unahotels Reggio Emilia loses 79-66 in Brescia: too many ups and downs

Reggio Emilia, 27 April 2025 – At the end of a decidedly not very nice match, played for three quarters of mutual tears, even if in the end the opponents always held the ball in their hands, Unahotels fell on the parquet of Germani Brescia.

We started with the handicap of being absent at the last minute, due to fever attack, Faried, which against a solid and athletic team like Brescia would have been a real treat, also for the energy they put on the pitch, the red and whites still played a decent match in terms of commitment, but spiced up by great offensive difficulties, also thanks to the opponents, and in which many protagonists of the Priftis troop were not up to par. Positive performance, overall speaking, for Faye, Vitali, Barford and a good Chillo. The rest of the company was below par.

Starting up Brescia dominates on the rebound, Reggio responds with an excellent defense, but the problem for the red and whites is that in attack they can't even score a basket in a bathtub and so Germani, without objectively doing much, finds itself ahead by ten points at half time (14-4) and by seven at the first siren.

In the second quarter Unahotels finally finds several baskets, in particular from the 6,75 line; a factor that also produces a break of 7-0 which brings the tie to Priftis's troops: 24-24. Coach Poeta calls a time-out at that point and the Lombard reaction arrives, taking advantage the undoubted physical superiority. Bilan dictates the law again and the Emilians end up on the ropes. However, once again, Vitali and his teammates hold firm, and despite many errors they go into the long break at -5.

Back on the parquet Unahotels takes Germani by surprise, combining good defensive intensity with great precision from long distance. A "combo" that yields a 10-2 break that is worth the first red and white advantage of the match (43-46). However, it is a flash in the pan because Brescia, with talent and tactical astuteness, places a 11-2 partial result which brings the home team back in front. The final 10 minutes are therefore reached with the former Reggio player Della Valle and teammates ahead 56-50.

The match continued in relative balance until the 5th minute when Germani, pushed by Della Valle, placed the decisive push, with a partial that allowed her to return in double margin figure: 66-58. Reggio, also because it is a bit on its legs, can no longer mend.

The little table

GERMANY: Bilan 15, Ferrero, Dowe 7, Della Valle 21, Ndour 14, Burnell 7, Ivanovic 7, Mobio 3, Rivers 2, Cournooh 3. NE: Tonelli, Pollini.

UNAHOTELS: Barford 12, Winston 12, Faye 11, Gombauld 6, Smith 2, Uglietti 1, Fainke, Vitali 8, Grant 2, Chillo 5, Cheatham 7. All.: Priftis

Referees: Mark Bartoli, Valerio Grigioni, Simone Patti Partials: 19-12, 37-32, 56-50 Notes: 3-pointers: Germani 7/24, Unahotels 7/28, free throws: Brescia 26/31, Reggio Emilia 9/14. Rebounds: 48-37.