Reyer shakes off a slow start and closes out Cedevita behind defense and a decisive Wiltjer finish
End of quarter plays define Reyer’s comeback win against Cedevita
Game Report
3 Mins read
Regular Season
Round 16 of 18
Regular Season
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Umana Reyer VeniceURV
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Cedevita Olimpija LjubljanaCOL
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Overview
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Umana Reyer Venice had to battle until the final second to edge Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana 86–84 at home in Round 16, a result that dramatically increases Reyer’s chances of qualifying for the playoffs. Cedevita had already punched its ticket, and it led most of the way, but Reyer found enough defense, physicality and poise to flip the momentum at the end of each quarter and close it with Kyle Wiltjer’s decisive basket with 3.2 seconds left, followed by a contested stop on Matthew Hurt’s potential winner.
The first quarter belonged to the visitors. After a wild four‑point play by Jordan Parks, Alessandro Lever missed a wide‑open dunk at the horn to punctuate Reyer’s struggles, and Cedevita led 19–29 after 10 minutes, dominating almost every aspect of the game. It buried 7 of 9 two‑pointers and 4 of 6 threes, dished 8 assists against just 2 turnovers, while Reyer made only 5 of 17 two‑point shots. When Aleksej Nikolic and Jaka Blazic struck from downtown, it was 19–35.
Reyer steadied itself in the second quarter. The defense tightened, the glass evened up, and the hosts finished the half with an exclamation point as RJ Cole found Parks for a huge dunk to bring it within 41–46. In the period, Reyer made 8 of 12 two‑pointers, grabbed 10 rebounds, and forced 4 Cedevita turnovers.
“We have to continue with the same aggressiveness. We had problems to adjust at the beginning of the game and now, it is a two‑possession game,” head coach Neven Spahija said at halftime.
Kyle Wiltjer gave the arena a jolt at the end of the third, drilling a wild three‑pointer from beyond midcourt. Despite being outrebounded 5–10 in the quarter, Reyer found answers from deep, making 4 of 6 threes, and its defense stayed strong, forcing 4 more turnovers to keep the game within reach.
As expected, it all came down to the final plays. DJ Stewart’s bomb put Cedevita up 79–80, Carl Wheatle answered from beyond the arc, and Hurt tied it at 82–82 from the foul line. Parks hit free throws, only for Umoja Gibson to bury a step‑back jumper for an 84–84 tie with 8.3 seconds left. Reyer called a timeout and put the ball in Wiltjer’s hands; the Canadian took Hurt one‑on‑one to score in the paint with 3.2 seconds remaining. Cedevita advanced the ball, and Hurt’s potentially game‑winning three, contested by Wiltjer, missed at the buzzer.
In short, Reyer lacked consistency and focus early; physicality and defense brought it back; and inspiration — plus a little luck with Wiltjer’s midcourt prayer — carried it through the finish.
“I’m going to give credit to my team. They did really well. They fought till the end. Like I said before the game, no matter if we are short in the rotation, we’re going to give our best. Also, I’m going to give credit to Olimpija. They are a very good team. They knew what they were doing from the first second of the game. They were so physical and we responded,” Spahija said. “That’s kind of our DNA. We have to be exactly who we are, continue to believe in ourselves, work hard and believe, together with our fans.”
Parks led the way with 22 points, Wiltjer added 19 and Wheatle 12 for the winners, who were without Ky Bowman and Chris Horton. Reyer will qualify for the next round with another win; it heads on the road to face BAXI Manresa in Round 17 and hosts Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem in Round 18. Depending on other results, it could also qualify without more wins.
“I feel great,” Parks said. “A game like that, to be able to come back and play against them. We know we took a big loss to them in Slovenia and we were able to turn around, even shorthanded, and play like a full and whole team… Everybody has to just pick up and do a little bit more. All hands on deck.”
