Tezenis Verona clinched an impressive victory over UEB Gesteco Cividale, winning 83-74 on March 19, 2025. The match took place at the PalaGesteco, where Cividale hoped to bounce back after a tough defeat in the Coppa Italia final just days earlier. With this win, Verona not only boosted their morale but also kept their playoff hopes alive in the competitive Serie A2 standings.
Cividale, fresh off their cup final loss against Cantù, was aiming to recover from a disappointing series of games. However, they struggled against a physically dominant Verona team, which showcased greater energy and efficiency. Jalen Cannon led the way for Verona with a standout performance, scoring 18 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, demonstrating his importance in the paint and helping to maintain their edge throughout the match.
Lorenzo Penna also had a significant impact, contributing 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. His play was crucial in keeping Verona ahead during critical moments, especially when Cividale sought to close the gap. In addition, Federico Faggian added 16 points with a remarkable shooting performance, knocking down 4 of 5 three-point attempts, effectively stretching Cividale's defense.
The game began with Cividale establishing a lead, initially buoyed by strong starts from players like Dell’Agnello, who scored 7 points in quick succession. However, Verona quickly responded, leveling the score at different points in the first quarter before taking a 21-16 lead at the end of the first stanza.
The second quarter saw Cividale struggling with turnovers and missed opportunities, particularly amidst physical play from both teams. The guests capitalized on Cividale’s errors, moving ahead by as many as nine points, closing the first half at 37-29 in their favor. Despite these struggles, Cividale’s coach Pillastrini acknowledged their team’s attempts to rally, but they were unable to convert opportunities, allowing Verona to maintain control of the match.
In the third quarter, Cividale began to chip away at Verona’s lead, narrowing it to just three points. However, despite some moments of resurgence, Verona's composure and tactical execution won out as they responded effectively to Cividale's advances. Cannon and Penna combined to stretch the lead again, making effective plays on both ends of the court.
As the game reached its climax, with Cividale behind, frustration became evident as they stumbled in key moments, leading to fouls and mistakes that further compounded their difficulties. A particularly telling moment was a technical foul called against Dell’Agnello amid tensions on the court, which allowed Penna to extend the gap even further.
By the time the match descended into its final minutes, Verona was ahead by a comfortable margin, but Cividale continued to fight back. Their captain, Rota, fought valiantly, making several crucial plays to keep Cividale’s hopes alive. Yet, the physical disparity and fatigue plagued the home team. A late three-pointer from Mastellari provided fleeting hope but was not enough to close the gap completely.
The final moments saw successful free throws from Penna, stamping Verona’s authority on the game as they secured a crucial 83-74 victory. This result places Cividale at 19 wins and 13 losses with 38 points, while Verona improves to 18 wins against 14 losses, totaling 36 points in the standings.
Following the match, reactions from both coaches were telling. Pillastrini noted that "the fatigue from the cup had a clear impact" on his team's performance, and acknowledged that they needed to recover quickly to face the formidable Reale Mutua Torino in their next outing. Meanwhile, Verona’s coach Ramagli claimed, "We were aware of Cividale’s struggles with fatigue and aimed to exploit that throughout the game," revealing a strategic intention in their gameplay.
This intense matchup not only illustrated the compelling narratives in the race for playoff positions but also highlighted individual talents that can shape the journeys of both teams as the season progresses. As both Cividale and Verona prepare for their next challenges, the stakes have never been higher.
