Napoli Basketball secured their third consecutive league win. Coach Repesa’s team defeated Cantù away 99–80, maintaining their perfect record and remaining at the top of the standings. It was Ramsey’s debut, but Napoli Basketball had to do without Jakimovski. Following medical examinations, he was diagnosed with a complete tear of the right internal oblique abdominal muscle, detached from its attachment to the eleventh rib. The player has already begun the treatment and rehabilitation programme prescribed by the medical staff. His recovery time will be determined according to his clinical progress and response to treatment. Ramsey was Napoli’s leading scorer with 19 points. Dowtin Jr., White, Brown and Seljaas also finished in double figures.
The opening quarter was evenly balanced. Dowtin Jr. and Brown scored for Napoli, while Cantù responded with Moretti and Flagg, whose three-pointer made it 12–9. The home side moved seven points ahead, once again thanks to Flagg, but Ramsey, making his debut, scored five consecutive points. Spissu’s basket gave Napoli a 20–19 lead at the end of the first quarter. Napoli started the second quarter strongly, with White and Petrucelli extending the lead to 30–23. Flagg brought Cantù back to within one point, but Ramsey scored again for azzurri. Tarczewski and Udom scored baskets, while Caruso scored and drew a foul. Dowtin Jr. added points towards the end of the quarter, but Gravett’s lay-up made it 49–41 at halftime.
Napoli appeared ready to pull away in the third quarter, opening up a 12-point lead thanks to Brown. However, Cantù refused to give up and, led by Christon and the ever-reliable Flagg, cut the deficit to four points, forcing Repesa to call a timeout. Dowtin Jr.’s three-pointer added to Napoli’s score, but the home side took advantage of two technical fouls called against Tarczewski and the Napoli bench. The score stood at 66–61 at the end of the third quarter. In the final period, Cantù appeared to follow the momentum, cutting the deficit to just one point with Moretti’s three-pointer. But that was when Napoli took complete control, unleashing a remarkable 22–0 run, led by White, Seljaas, Brown and Dowtin Jr., to put the game beyond reach. Late in the game, young Esposito made his Serie A debut. The final score was 99–80, allowing Napoli to celebrate the victory alongside the many Napoli fans in attendance at the PalaDesio arena.
Jasmin Repesa:
“The most important thing was to win in a difficult situation. After two defeats, Cantù had prepared everything to try to win this game. We are playing every three days, and it is not easy to find the physical and mental energy needed to impose our style of play. We didn’t play a great game, but we maintained a pace that was too high for Cantù at this stage of the season. Towards the end of the third quarter, when we managed to put together two or three good defensive possessions, we closed out the game. Starting tonight, we will turn our attention to our next opponents, Śląsk Wrocław. In a short time, we have built an extraordinary group that knows how to play together.”
Napoli Basketball will return to action on Wednesday, 14 October, at 7:00 p.m. in Poland, against Śląsk Wrocław in the third round of the EuroCup. On Sunday at 12, Olimpia Milano will come to the Alcott Arena for the fourth round of the Italian Serie A championship.