Unahotels Tenerife 74-84: Reggio leads for 37', but it's not enough

Reggio Emilia, 12 March 2025 – A wasted opportunity, in the end, for the Unahotels, that lead the match for 37' against the highly rated Tenerife, in the fourth match of the second phase of Bcl, but it falls apart right at the decisive moment, due to some Defensive uncertainties and the attack jamming. In this last case perhaps also due to the fatigue accumulated in the previous effort. A pity because the Priftis's troop had managed to keep a firm hold on the reins even when the Spaniards, after a rather soft start, had significantly increased the intensity and shown off all their remarkable talent. No drama, in any case, because the European path is not compromised at all and on the eve of the match in the Reggio Emilia environment they would have done anything to get to play with the one who is the favorite for the success of the Fiba Champions League same, but there is still a bitter taste in the mouth. Reggio starts with a good attitude, taking advantage Faried's energy and Winston's “verve”., for the 11-2 halfway through the period. The red and whites were also helped by a zone defense that was almost always well executed and the contribution of the foreigner Gombauld cup. All this results in a good first quarter and the +6 home team at its conclusion. Two spectacular and powerful dunks by Faried open the second quarter, giving Unahotels inertia and a double-digit margin. A very angry vidorreta calls a time-out and scolds his players. The Iberian coach's "telling off" bears fruit, because La Laguna significantly increases the defensive intensity and improves its shooting percentages. Furthermore, the red and whites get caught up in the frenzy in attack. The guests thus come back again. However, Vitali and his teammates are good at containing the wave, they do not fall apart, they find good points and physicality to Faye and they reach the long break with a haul of 9 points. When they return to the parquet it is still the Reggio Emilia basketball to appear more strong-willed and on the axis Barford Cheatham pushes up to +16 (51-35). The islanders rely on the veteran Huertas (42 springs) who dispenses basketball but does not find followers to his sermons. At least until the moment in which, to act as his altar boy, comes Kramer, who scores three from long distance, avoiding the collapse of his team. Once again Unahotels is able to manage the situation and wins the third quarter by a hair's breadth.

Presenting themselves with a +10 at the final partial. Unfortunately, the red and whites started in the worst possible way: suffering a dry 6-0 and threading serial errors in the offensive phase. Tenerife thus returns to the game when it seemed on the verge of losing it. Priftis tries to slow down the Iberian inertia by talking to his boys and the move brings some dividends, because the Reggio team manages to hold on to the match tooth and nail. However, Tenerife's greater class comes out in the final: from 69-64 at home, Vidorreta's troop places a sensational 12-0 result in particular of three consecutive triples, 2 by an unleashed Kramer (plus two free throws scored following a foul) one by Huertas. Reggio ends up on the ropes and down by 6 points, maximum disadvantage and precisely at the key moment with 3' to go. At that point Unahotels no longer has the energy or emotional strength to get the match back on track.

The little table

UNAHOTELS: Barford 12, Winston 9, Faye 10, Gombauld 2, Smith 9, Uglietti, Vitali 3, Faried 14, Grant 2, Cheatham. Ne: Gallo and Chillo. All.: Priftis. THE LAGOON : Kramer 25, Fernandez, Huertas 22, Scrubb 13, Costa 4, Sastre 3, Shermadini 2, Abromantis 2, Guerra 5, Doornekamp 8. Ne: Kostadinov and Riga. Coaches: Vidorreta Referees: Kozlovskis Martins (Let), Vulic Martin (Cro), Manniste Mihkel (East) Halftimes: 20-14, 40-31, 61-51 Notes: spectators: 2134; 3-point shots: Unahotels 6/18, La Laguna 13/34; free throws: Reggio Emilia 10/12, Tenerife 17/23.