The energy displayed by the Italian women, put in confidence by a good efficiency in the first minutes, threw a small disorder in the Belgian ranks (20-15). We first attended a few very badly adjusted shots and too many ball losses on the side of the cats to be able to take matters into hand.
Even Emma Meesseman, the usual assurance of all risks of the cats, experienced difficulty in entering the game by scoring a single basket on her first five attempts. But even when the Belgian control tower wicks slightly, there are drivers on board to allow the Belgian rocket to take off despite a delay in ignition. It was mainly Julie Vanloo and Julie German who set up the engine, both in creation and the finish by accelerating the game. The Belgian machine was launched and the Belgian Cats were able to return the situation in the second quarter (33-40 at rest).
Antonia Delaere did not tremble
When they are in this position, Cats have often been irresistible since the start of the tournament. And it seemed to be confirmed once again when the Belgian advantage rose to 14 points. But a small grain of sand, in this case the fourth fault of Kyara Linskens, has restored large cold sweats to Belgium. The pivot was recalled on the bench and this moment coincided with an incredible rise in the Italian, again mistresses of the rebound, who signed a 17-0 to go back to the marquer (60-57).
The euphoria which took hold of the Italian ranks contrasts with the period of doubt crossed by cats that we had never seen so febrile in this euro. The return of Linskens brought back a little more balance to the game but the end of the match was played under high tension. Led 64-62 to 26 seconds from the term, Belgium then managed to free Antonia Delaere with three points which did not tremble and probably inscribed the most important basket of her career to place the cats at the controls. Italy lacked its last attempt, thus qualifying Belgium for a second consecutive European final, again against Spain.
Italy : Keys 4, Pasa 0, Verona 6, Zandalasini 11, Cubaj 13, Pan 6, Madera 0, Santucci 6, Fassina 11, Andre 4, Spreafico 3, Trimboli 0.
Belgium : Delaere 8, Meeseman 15, Linskens 8, Vanloo 15, Allemand 11, Claessens 5, Mununga 2, Lisowa 2, Joris -, Vervaet -, Massey -, Ramette -.
Referees : Poursanidis (Grè), Praksch (Hon), Güngör (Tur).
Quarts : 20-17, 13-23, 10-17, 21-9.
