B league basketball, Luiss Roma also wins in Caserta

Luiss proves to be the team in the best shape of the championship by winning on Sunday 15 January in Caserta 72-81 and finishing second in the standings. Pasqualin and his companions will then play the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia against Rieti next week.
The game that Paccariè’s boys lead in the fiery Pala Piccolo is textbook: thanks to an excellent basketball maturity, a skilful team defense and a highly inspired Pasqualin who scores 31 points and 9 rebounds.
Luiss proves to be the team in the best shape of the championship by winning on Sunday 15 January in Caserta 72-81 and finishing second in the standings. Pasqualin and his companions will then play the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia against Rieti next week.
The game that Paccariè’s boys lead in the fiery Pala Piccolo is textbook: thanks to an excellent basketball maturity, a skilful team defense and a highly inspired Pasqualin who scores 31 points and 9 rebounds.
The first quarter is understood and Luiss Roma puts all its defensive physicality on the field, while Caserta tries to escape on 20-11. However, Legnini and Pasqualin find important points and ends 23-19. At 27-21, with a nice basket from Pasqualin, Caserta responds with two blazes from Sperduto for 32-23. Legnini from three brings Luiss closer 34 -26 and then Murri follows him with another triple for 34-29. Luiss manages some possessions badly and Caserta responds on the counterattack by running away 40-29. Paccariè sends Pasqualin back onto the pitch and the university players score again.
Di Bonaventura’s triple brings us up 40-32, opening a 13-0 run which ends with two great triples from Pasqualin: the 40-42 lead goes to Luiss when time runs out.
It starts again with a triple from Di Bonaventura for 40-45. Lucas brings Caserta back by 1, but Jovovic replies from the corner for 49-53. Caserta tries hard and with its captain Biagio Sergio reaches 55-55. Pasqualin doesn’t give in and places a triple, a medium-sized basket and launches on the break for a fabulous 7-0 Luiss (55-62). Di Bonaventura and Jovovic help lead us up 56-67. Caserta responds with second shots and stays in the game, but Pasqualin insists and brings him back to 60-69. It’s a beautiful and exciting match.
Due to a bad ball lost by Luiss, Caserta returns to the game at 64-69 and the Pala Piccolo explodes. The match gets awkward for our players: the quintets are tired and the referees whistle two technical fouls for Caserta. Luiss did not optimize and the hosts, with energy, came back down by two on 69-71 with four minutes to go. This time Luiss takes possession of the ball closing the action with a triple from Fallucca for 69-74, silencing the Palazzetto. Caserta is at the corner and out of breath, strength from the long run and cannot find the retina. Luiss, on the other hand, is in control and runs away again 71-80.
This is the decisive time: it closes 71-82 to the applause of a warm audience, who knows basketball and accepts defeat after a game played by both teams to the max.
The next match will see us on the pitch on January 21st at 18.00 against Salerno.