Napoli bounced back with a well-deserved win in a tough matchup against a strong opponent like Trento, leading the game for most of the night. Once again, five players scored in double figures for the Azzurri, with Naz Mitrou-Long leading the way with 24 points and a perfect 4-for-4 from beyond the arc. It’s the third win of the season for Napoli, and the second on the road, bringing their total to six points in the standings.
The first basket of the game came from Guglielmo Caruso. Napoli followed with Simms and Bolton, but Trento answered with two three-pointers from Jogela and DJ Steward. Simms struck again from deep to give the Azzurri a 6–11 lead. The home team responded, capitalizing on Napoli’s missed shots to move ahead 15–11. Napoli closed the quarter strong with a run fueled by a Simms triple and plays from Bolton and El-Amin, ending the first period up 15–20.
Trento came out strong in the second quarter with DJ Steward and Jakimovski, who scored five straight points. Napoli quickly reacted through Naz Mitrou-Long, who answered and made it 24–28. The two teams traded baskets back and forth. A beautiful play by Bolton made it 32–36, prompting Coach Cancellieri to call a timeout. Battle kept Trento close, cutting the deficit to two, but Gentile responded with a three-pointer to put Napoli up by five with a minute left in the half. The first half ended with Napoli leading 39–41.
The third quarter opened with a great play by Battle and a three-pointer from Naz Mitrou-Long. Battle struck again from deep to give Trento the lead at 48–47. But Mitrou-Long answered with another triple and a fantastic drive to push Napoli back ahead 50–56, forcing Trento to call timeout. Two straight threes from Forray got Trento back within reach, but Napoli responded through Bolton and Simms. The third quarter ended with the Azzurri on top, 63–69.
In the fourth and decisive quarter, Trento started hot with a 7–0 run capped by a Battle three that gave them the lead, forcing Coach Magro to call timeout. El-Amin scored Napoli’s first basket of the period, but Forray hit from deep to put Trento ahead 75–71. El-Amin refused to back down, knocking down back-to-back threes to put Napoli back in front, 75–78. The final minutes were electric. Mitrou-Long and Bolton extended Napoli’s lead to 77–82, prompting another Trento timeout. With three minutes left, Croswell missed two free throws. Trento tied it again at 82–82 thanks to a Jakimovski three and Steward at the line. Simms stayed ice-cold at the stripe, hitting four straight free throws to restore Napoli’s lead. Trento hit another three, but a massive Mitrou-Long answered with a clutch bomb to make it 85–89 and then drew a crucial offensive foul on the following possession. Bolton added two more free throws, and Napoli pulled ahead 85–91. Mitrou-Long sealed it from the line. The Azzurri deservedly took home a 87–93 win in a game they controlled for most of the night.
Coach Magro:
“It was an important win. We were coming off two losses that came down to just a few possessions and small details. Tonight’s game was decided in exactly the same way — by possessions and execution. I hope this victory builds confidence in the work we’re doing. I believe this team is growing game by game. We’re still not consistent for the full 40 minutes, and we’ll have to learn to be. Winning on the road in our league is never easy, especially here in Trento. Still, we managed to stay in control for most of the game, except for a few stretches where we made too many consecutive mistakes. We had a blackout at 77–82 that could have been costly, but in the end, our individual and collective trust allowed us to get the job done. Before the break, we have two home games, and I hope that, in front of our amazing fans, we can keep this momentum going and get more wins for our incredible supporters.”
Naz Mitrou-Long:
“This was a really big win for us. My first thought goes to my family, who was here in Trento today. Winning close, hard-fought games like this is crucial — it gives us so much confidence and belief in what we’re capable of.”
credits. Ciamillo-Castoria