Umana Reyer Venezia snatches Serie A title

Umana Reyer Venezia has snapped seventy years of hurt and has clinched the Italian Serie A title. The club claimed a narrow 78-81 win on the road against Dolomiti Energia Trentino in Game 6 to win the finals series 4-2.

This victory is a third Serie A crown for Umana Reyer Venezia, but it is the first since the back-to-back titles of 1942 and 1943. Indeed, most fans grandparents were not alive the last time the Venice club stood atop Italian Basketball.

The finals series has been close throughout, but Umana Reyer Venezia pulled ahead in Game 5 and then finished it in Game 6. During the first quarter, the teams could not be separated and played out a 17-17 locked frame. Trentino edged a tight second frame with a 19-18 run that handed them a one point advantage through the long break. At the midway break, the scoreboard read 36-35.

Visiting Venezia turned the game during the third act and moved towards the title. The team drained 21 points and stopped the hosts at 15 points to carve a 51-56 lead through thirty minutes. In the final quarter, Trentino attempted to rally and produced 27 points. However, Umana Reyer also scored big with 25 points and closed out the game.

Melvin Ejim paced the win with 15 points, while Marquez Haynes and Ariel Filloy scored 17 points apiece.

There were two huge double-double games in the Trentino ranks, but that could not stop the hosts from losing. Dominique Sutton scored a game-high 23 points and claimed 13 rebounds, while Dustin Hogue scored 16 points and 13 boards.