The rematch of week 1’s win looked like a game from a different season. Without 3 players that dressed to play in Affrico’s debut and with a different head coach, Enegan played bravely but, in the end, Matera prevailed.
With the rotations reduced to 8 players, as Pazzi and Wood’s replacements have yet to be decided, coach Caja was satisfied by his players’ effort.
Bawer’s point guard Cantone lead the charge early on with 4 assists in the first quarter, as the home team lead by 8 (23-15) after 10′. Affrico didn’t fold and, between the second and third quarter, erased a deficit that had reached double digits thanks to an inspired Kyle Swanston.
The frontcourt’s foul-trouble stopped Enegan’s momentum and Matera pushed to an 8 point lead again (61-53) in the forth quarter. Rabaglietti and Simoncelli cut the lead back to 2 but 5 straight points from Kyle Austin seemed to put an early end to the game. It was another team effort culminated by an incredible Castelli’s three pointer that carried Affrico back in the game. Some trouble at the foul line for Anthony Jones gave the ball back to Enegan with a dozen seconds on the clock and a chance to tie or win it, but Simoncelli’s inbound was intercepted by Austin and his fastbreak dunk ended the game.
Bawer Matera-Enegan Firenze 76-70
BAWER MATERA: Cantone 5 (1/1, 1/4), Jones 21 (5/7, 2/8), Austin 23 (5/7, 3/7), Rezzano 10 (1/2, 2/8), Iannuzzi 11 (4/6); Vico 6 (1/1, 1/2), Maganza, Bolletta, Toscano DNP, Sacco DNP. All.: Benedetto.
ENEGAN FIRENZE: Simoncelli 10 (1/2, 2/8), Rabaglietti 17 (2/4, 3/6), Swanston 22 (5/9, 4/8), Castelli 10 (3/5, 1/2), Conti 6 (3/5); Cucco (0/1, 0/3), Severini 5 (1/1, 1/1), Schiano 2 (0/1 da 3), Balloni DNP, Calosi DNP. All.: Caja.
OFFICIALS: Migotto, Buttinelli e Gagno.
SCORING: 23-15, 38-36, 55-51.
NOTES – FG %: Matera 17/24 from 2, 9/29 from 3; Firenze 15/27 from 2, 11/39 from 3. Free Throws : Matera 15/19, Firenze 7/8. Rebounds: Matera 29 (Iannuzzi 8), Firenze 27 (Swanston 8). Assists: Matera 14 (Cantone 7), Firenze 6 (Conti 4). Turnovers-Steals: Matera 14-7, Firenze 15-11. Fouled out: none. Attendance: 1200.