The debut is a winning one. The Sammarine national team started the European Championships of the Small States as best I could, with a clear and unnecessary victory over Gibraltar. The star of the match was an irrepressible Pietro Ugolini (22 points), while Tommaso Felici was also excellent (14) who, especially in the third quarter, opened the way to the decisive break. Positive start, therefore, with the next match scheduled for Thursday: Raschi and his teammates will face Armenia (duo at 4.15 pm).

THE CHRONICLE. Coach Maghelli begins with the quintet made up of Moretti, Liberti, Raschi, Pietro Ugolini and Biordi. The first point is from Gibraltar with a free, but in reality it will be the last advantage of the game for the Biancazzurri’s opponents. Pietro Ugolini starts at the top scoring from outside, from below and on the counterattack, the team benefits and goes up 12-5 in an amen (Pietro already at 10…). Gibraltar tries to shuffle the cards, but in this phase of the match San Marino has the right readiness to stay ahead with authority (18-11 at 10 ‘).
In the quarter there is literally never a score, so much so that at the end of 10 ‘the two teams have to put a mark in a total of two canisters from the field: one from Garcia Tejon and the other from Felici. An additional free allows Gibraltar to win the fourth, but at half-time the substance of things does not change (24-18).
Returning from the locker rooms, San Marino finds its most sparkling version. The national team dominates by rebound, takes advantage of the centimeters of the alto quintet very well and finds a Felici definitely on the ball. For Tommy three consecutive dogs to open the period. Everyone manages to find good solutions and the team, on the wings of a couple of triples from Palmieri’s corner, climbs 45-26 in the 29th minute. Reassuring advantage, frozen for a moment by Garcia Tejon, who at the end of the fourth scores a sensational basket from his own area (45-29).
Gibraltar takes its cue from that torpedo and tries to believe it, Yome scores and the team goes to -10 at 47-37. We need acceleration and San Marino gives it through Raschi and Pietro Ugolini. At 5 ‘from the gong he is 54-37, then Culross and Yome try hard but Gibraltar returns to the maximum at -8 with one minute to go.
San Marino wins 61-47, good guys !!!

The Scoreboard
SAN MARINO – GIBRALTAR 61-47

SAN MARINO: Moretti 7 (0/1, 0/4), Liberti (0/4, 0/3), Raschi 6 (2/3, 0/4), P. Ugolini 22 (6/12, 3/6), Biordi 4 (1/2, 0/2), Palmieri 6 (0/1, 2/5), Felici 14 (5/9, 0/1), Borello, Riccardi (0/1 of three), G. Ugolini 2 (1/3), Fiorani, Renzi. Coach: Maghelli.

GIBRALTAR: Rodriguez 7 (1/5, 0/1), Yome 16 (2/12, 3/7), El Yettefti 2 (1/6), Garcia Tejon 12 (2/6, 2/4), Culross 8 ( 2/5, 1/1), McGrail 2 (0/3, 0/2), Buxton (0/2, 0/3), Cassaglia, Garcia (0/1 from three), Graham Noon (0/1 from three), three), A. Yeats (0/1, 0/2), I. Yeats (0/1). Coach: Cassaglia.

Partial: 18-11, 24-18, 45-29, 61-47.

Rebounds: San Marino 54 (Biordi 11), Gibraltar 36 (McGrail 7)

Assist: San Marino 19 (Raschi 7), Gibraltar 8 (Yome 3).