Reggio Emilia shuts down Gaziantep to win semifinal

TURNING POINT: Reggio Emilia pulled away decisively in the third quarter and ended up extending their 33-28 half-time cushion to a 54-43 lead as they scored their first points in transition and Ojars Silins with James White hit contested shots from long range. Gaziantep have been the protagonists of many a brave comeback this season, but this proved a mountain the Turkish team could not climb.

GAME HERO: Andrea Cinciarini was the soul, brains and lungs of Reggio Emilia in the semi-final and scored eight crucial points in the second frame, when the hosts slowed down on the offensive end. He collected a double-double of 13 points, 12 rebounds and dished out six assists.

STATS DON'T LIE: Reggio Emilia's assist-to-turnover ration was a remarkably effective 17/7 while Gaziantep's figure amounted to a poor 9/15. The Final Four hosts, who also stole 11 balls, rendered useless in this way the Turkish side's superiority on the glass.

Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia beat the defensive-minded Royal Hali Gaziantep in their own game on Friday night and claimed a 66-55 triumph in the second semi-final of the EuroChallenge Final Four in Bologna.