First victory of the season for Pallacanestro Varese who, still without Nico Mannion, beat Estra Pistoia with the result of 102 to 95. Good performance from the red and whites who, despite still conceding a lot in defence, managed to make their attack count, led by a super Alviti, author of 29 points (career high). The red and whites will return to the pitch in exactly one week for the difficult away match on the Pistoia pitch. Tap-off at 5pm.
Pistoia opens the match with a 6-0 partial (Paschall, Rowan and Brajkovic) interrupted shortly after by a good “basket” from Hands which, however, does not slow down the guests who then extend to +9 (2-11) forcing coach Mandolas at timeout. Upon returning to the field, Librizzi unlocks Openjobmetis with 6 points in a row, Alviti scores 11 with a bomb, while Akobundu-Ehiogu gives his team their first lead of the evening by “crushing” 15-14. Estra suffered the setback and then Varese took advantage with the break of 22-14 (Alviti on top) which, in the 10th minute, transformed into 26-18.
Openjobmetis finds the +10 at the start of the second period with Alviti who, shortly after, explodes the Itelyum Arena with the 2+1 of the momentary +14 (34-20). Christon shakes his team from distance and they first manage to get back to -7 (40-33) and then get back on track (45-41) with Saccaggi’s triple from the corner. Mandole stops the game, but upon returning to the parquet Pistoia equalizes (45-45) and then scores for 47-50 in the 20th minute.
The start of the third quarter rewards the hosts who go up 54-50 with Librizzi, Hands and Gray. Pistoia is not surprised and gets back ahead with Rowan, only to then suffer another overtaking by Varese, taken by the hand by Alviti, author of 14 consecutive points which are worth the home’s new +12 (71-59), a gap that Hands further widens with a 3-point play for the momentary 76-61.
Estra returns to the field with the knife between their teeth and returns to -3 thanks to the Christon-Brajkovic duo. Openjobmetis falters, but holds its own thanks to Hands’ free throws and his subsequent basket in transition which sets the score at the final 102-95.
THE SCORESHEET – THE WORDS OF COACH MANDOLE
