SAM Massagno swept aside Union Neuchâtel 104-75 in the SB Liga on Saturday evening. The hosts, sitting sixth in the standings, put together a performance that left their fourth-placed visitors reeling. It was a result that shifted the mood in the league considerably.
To be fair, Neuchâtel had looked solid all season. Thirteen wins from twenty-four games puts them in a respectable position, and their recent form showed a team that could compete against anyone. But then Massagno came out firing, and the visitors simply could not find their rhythm.
The home side scored freely, building a lead that grew with each quarter. By then, the visitors were playing catch-up, but the gap was too wide. Massagno kept their side in it with consistent scoring, and here's the thing — they did not let up when the game was effectively over.
Neuchâtel's recent results had been mixed. A narrow win over Lugano on their last outing, but losses to Fribourg and two defeats to Lausanne earlier in April. Things came to a head against Massagno, and the visitors could not respond. They dug in, but it was not enough.
Massagno's own form had been unpredictable. They beat Lausanne 90-84 on their last match, but their previous results against Regio Basel showed inconsistency — a win, a loss, and a heavy defeat. Still, they saw it out here, and the 29-point margin says everything.
The standings now tell a different story. Neuchâtel remain fourth, but the psychological blow of this defeat will linger. Massagno move closer to the top half, and the gap between them and the teams above is closing. Cup football has its own rules, but this league demands consistency, and tonight Massagno delivered.
