Openjobmetis Varese’s preseason came to a close with a loss, as they fell 99-105 to Maxima Roma in their final preseason friendly before the official start of the season. Without McDowell-White, the red-and-whites put up a hard-fought and evenly matched game for long stretches, with the outcome decided only in the final quarter, when the team from Rome managed to pull away decisively. Regardless of the result, the game at the Itelyum Arena served as another valuable opportunity to get minutes under their belts, further refine team chemistry, and build chemistry among the players ahead of official competition. Varese now has one final week of training to prepare for its league debut, scheduled for Sunday, September 27, at 7:00 p.m. against Virtus Bologna.
Alviti opened the game with a three-pointer to make it 3-0, which Holiday immediately answered. Kamagate scored the first points in the paint, while Duke Jr. and Alviti again hit shots from beyond the arc, allowing Openjobmetis to pull ahead for the first time at 13-7. Veronesi cuts the lead from long range, but Varese continues to find good scoring opportunities with Roby, Duke Jr., and Kamagate, even building an 8-point lead at 23-15. In the closing minutes, however, Rome ramped up the intensity, and with Brown III and Lemar’s three-pointer, they cut the deficit to one point before Kamagate closed out the quarter with a basket to make it 25-22. Hale opened the second quarter and immediately became the focal point of the red-and-white offense, responding to Rome’s comeback attempts with two three-pointers. Ikangi and Della Valle pushed Varese to a 40-34 lead, but Rome fought back with Ryan and Bilan, completely erasing the deficit to tie the score at 40-40. Librizzi and Alviti tried to regain momentum for Openjobmetis, but Holiday and Lemar put the visitors ahead 46-49. Alviti immediately tied the game from beyond the arc, and after Rome regained the lead thanks to Bilan, it was Hale once again who took charge of the offense with five consecutive points, making the halftime score 54-51.
Upon returning from the locker room, Della Valle scored four consecutive points from the free-throw line; then Roby from beyond the arc and Duke Jr. pushed Varese to a 63-53 lead, forcing Coach Cotelli to call a timeout. Rome kept its composure and, led by Ryan, Bilan, and Brown III, gradually closed the gap until taking a 69-70 lead. Nikolic and a three-pointer by Della Valle put the red-and-whites back in front, but Alibegovic continued to hit shots from long range, keeping the game perfectly balanced. In the closing moments, Camara tied the game at 75-75, and Alibegovic even put Roma ahead, but Duke Jr.’s two free throws gave Varese a 79-78 lead at the end of the third quarter. Alviti opened the final quarter with five points of his own, and Hale added a three-pointer to make it 87-82, but from that point on, Rome shifted the momentum of the game: Alibegovic sank two consecutive three-pointers, and Camara completed the comeback to make it 87-90, forcing Kastritis to call a timeout. Renfro tried to stop Rome’s run, but Brown III, Alibegovic, and especially Lemar extended the lead to 90–98 before Holiday made it a 10-point lead. Varese attempted a final comeback with Duke Jr., Hale’s three-pointer, and Ikangi’s free throws, but Rome remained composed at the free-throw line and repelled every Varese attempt. Holiday and Wheatle then sealed the victory in the closing minutes, with Maxima prevailing at the Itelyum Arena, 105–99.
Pallacanestro Openjobmetis Varese-Maxima Roma: 99-105 (25-22; 54-51; 79-78)
Pallacanestro Openjobmetis Varese: Alviti 20, Duke Jr. 11, Villa, Della Valle 14, Nikolic 4, Hale 26, Librizzi 3, Renfro 2, Kamagate 6, Roby 5, Ladurner, Ikangi 8, Basualdo did not play. Coach: Giannis Kastritis.
Maxima Roma: Brown III 11, Bilan 12, Holiday 18, Alibegovic 23, Lemar 8, Veronesi 4, Dozic did not play, Carnevale did not play, Bonacini 6, Wheatle 5, Camara 6, Ryan 12. Coach: Matteo Cotelli.