Napoli Basketball produced an incredible comeback to win the derby, beating Longobardi Scafati 91-89 away from home in a game valid for the seventh round of the Italian Serie A Championship. Trailing by as many as 18 points, the Azzurri fought their way back in the closing minutes to secure a magnificent victory, sending the many Napoli fans in attendance in Scafati into celebration. Repesa’s team moves up to 12 points in the standings and, at least for tonight, sits alone at the top. John Petrucelli was also unavailable due to a fever, joining injured players Jakimovski and Brown on the sidelines.
Scafati made a strong start, opening with a 5-0 run. White scored Napoli’s first basket. The Azzurri responded with a 9-0 run to take the lead. Halfway through the quarter, the score was 8-12. An inspired Ramsey knocked down his second three-pointer to extend Napoli’s advantage to 10-15. The first quarter ended with Napoli leading 22-19. Spissu scored the first basket of the second quarter. Napoli missed two fast-break opportunities, and Scafati responded with a 5-0 run to tie the game at 24-24, forcing Repesa to call his first timeout. Bucchi’s team then took a 32-28 lead. Midway through the quarter, Scafati extended its advantage to seven points, its largest lead at that stage, making it 37-30 and prompting another timeout from Repesa. The home side continued to pull away, reaching 43-32 as Napoli struggled to find the basket. The teams went into halftime with Scafati leading 47-37.
Spissu opened the third quarter with a three-pointer. Scafati responded to every Napoli basket. Moore and Ramsey both hit impressive long-range three-pointers. Spissu and Faggian brought Napoli back within six points at 57-51, forcing Bucchi to call a timeout. White then scored six consecutive points, allowing Napoli to close the gap to 64-59. Scafati immediately responded with a 7-0 run to restore a 12-point lead at 71-59. Moore was outstanding from beyond the arc, and the third quarter ended with Scafati ahead 75-64. Scafati managed its advantage at the start of the final quarter, stretching the lead to as many as 18 points at 84-66, forcing Repesa to call another timeout. Ramsey sparked a 5-0 run, prompting Bucchi to immediately stop play with Napoli trailing 84-71. The Azzurri launched a remarkable late comeback, with Ramsey and Dowtin Jr. bringing them within five points at 89-84 with less than two minutes remaining. White, Spissu and Seljaas then completed the sensational turnaround, putting Napoli ahead 90-89 with just nine seconds left on the clock. Faggian recovered possession and made one of his two free throws. The Azzurri celebrated an extraordinary 91-89 victory over Scafati after an incredible late comeback, overturning an 18-point deficit and moving, at least for tonight, to the top of the standings.
Coach Repesa:
“I honestly don't know what to say. Scafati deserved to win as well. We have some very real problems, with three important perimeter players out. It's not easy to play every three days without Brown, Petrucelli and Jakimovski. Our big men did not perform at a high level.
The most important thing, the only positive aspect, is that we showed tremendous character. We proved once again that we never give up and, despite playing poorly, we managed to turn the game around. Our team chemistry continues to be productive.
What happened tonight is not something that can happen very often. We need to learn from this game. Tomorrow we'll travel to Germany. There's no time to recover, but we have to be ready to compete.”
Napoli Basketball will be back in action next Wednesday, November 11, at 7:00 p.m., away against german side Chemnitz, in the final first-leg fixture of EuroCup Group C. On Sunday, November 15, at 5:00 p.m., the Azzurri will play at the Alcott Arena against Pallacanestro Trieste in the eighth round of the Serie A Championship.