Trofeo d’Abruzzo – Verona defeated in a sprint by AEK Athens
Tezenis Verona is defeated in a sprint against AEK Athens in the first semifinal of the Abruzzo Trophy. 81-78 the final score at the end of a hard-fought and heated match, decided only in the final minutes of the last quarter. A match that saw the yellow and blue leads in the score for the entire first fraction. Then the recovery of AEK with the two teams that gave life to the last two balanced quarters.
Holman and Anderson closed the match 18 points each, Cappelletti also in double figures with 11. Tezenis will be engaged on Sunday in the final for the 3rd-4th place against the loser of Bayern Munich – Prosciutto Carpegna Pesaro.
Still without Selden, Coach Ramagli confirms the quintet of the last races with Cappelletti, Casarin, Udom, Holman and Smith.
After the duo ball won by Holman, Anderson wins and realizes three free throws that open the match. Holman puts the first points from the area (2-5), then hits from long distance for 5 to 10. Verona finds good defenses but in attack does not capitalize all the possessions (7 turnovers in the first quarter); AEK, in turn, wastes a maximum of twice the chance to get close (7-10) and Holman finds the way to the long-range basket again (7-13), then Anderson signs the lead on 7-15. Coach Kantzouris calls the first time out of the match but when Tezenis returns, she reaches +12; Athens returns to producing points and the first 10 minutes ends on the score of 11-19.
AEK is still approaching; the start of the second quarter brings only the points of Candussi and Udom (21-23) to the Gialloblù. Johnson sets three free throws and gives a new gap to Verona (21-26) but with Williams and Mitchell, both scoring from the area, AEK returns to -1 halfway through (25-26). Tezenis returns to produce defends with energy from which the yellow-blues build possessions that are worth points and a new break (32-37); the last minute opens with Cappelletti’s stolen ball, then concretized by Smith (32-39). The first half ends with a score of 34-39.
A few minutes in the second half and AEK Athens equalized 41-41. It is Frazier’s triple to impact the score after the Gialloblù, in the first three minutes, managed to score only two points. Anderson invents the basket which confirms the tie (48-48) in the middle of the quarter. Petropoulos, with a three-point game, tries to break the balance which is immediately re-established with Anderson’s triple (55-55). The third quarter ends at 61-62.
Tezenis tries to increase at the beginning of the last part with Udom and Rosselli (61-66). The return of the Aek is immediate and the draw comes in a turn of hands (66-66). Tezenis ‘offensive production stops, Williams’ triple again (66-69) forces Ramagli to time out. The Aek tries to escape with Papadakis’ basket (72-66); the game is alive, Smith crushes the -2 (72-70) and the match lights up more and more. Mitchell supports the 74-70 two and a half minutes from the end, then Johnson halves the disadvantage by tearing the rebound in attack and leaning against the glass. Final full of adrenaline: Anderson keeps Tezenis’ hope alive with a triple at 30 ” from the end (79-75) and always from long distance finds the 79-78 basket at 12 ” from the siren. Frazier, on the line, makes no mistake (81-78) and Anderson’s last triple goes out on the iron.
AEK Athens – Tezenis Verona 81-78
AEK Athens: Frazier 15, Petropolulos 5, Xanthopoulos, Mcgriff, Filippakos, Persidis 7, Madsen 10, Mavroeidis, Papadakis 12, Williams 17, Mitchell 10, Strellnieks 5. All. Kantzouris.
Tezenis Verona: Smith 5, Cappelletti 11, Selden ne, Holman 18, Ferrari ne, Casarin 2, Johnson 7, Imbrò 2, Candussi 5, Rosselli 6, Anderson 18, Udom 4. All. Twigs
Gian Paolo Zaffani – Tezenis Verona Communication Manager