Bertram Derthona: the Lions don't disfigure themselves against Pallacanestro Varese
Pall. Varese – Bertram Derthona 68-59
(17-15, 32-25, 56-41)
Varese: Avramovic 5, Pelle 12, Bergamaschi ne, Natali 4, Okoye 13, Tambone 2, Bryan 4, Ferrero 10, Wells ne, Walker 4, Cain 14, Hollis ne. All. Caja
Derthona: Gay ne, Meluzzi 5, Pilati ne, Sorokas 5, Radonjic 3, Divac 3, Apuzzo, Quaglia 11, Garri 3, Mei 4, Johnson 11, Spanghero 14. All. Pansa
Positive friendly test for Bertram Derthona, who does not disappoint against Pallacanestro Varese. Without Stefanelli, in the pits due to the after-effects of the blow suffered on Saturday evening during the Memorial Cima, the Lions demonstrate increasing intensity and defensive continuity compared to previous outings, finding good solutions to the physical pressure and greater athleticism displayed by Varese .
The start is black and white, with Mei and Spanghero scoring the points that make it 4-7 at the break. Caja increases the defensive pressure and with Ferrero (7) and Pelle (6, including the dunk on the 10th minute) he overtakes the lead which makes it 17-15 in the 10th minute.
Varese accelerates at the start of the second quarter, led by Okoye (5) and Cain (4), for the maximum lead at 30-17; Derthona reacts with the former player Johnson, who scores 8 consecutive points which make it 32-25 at the long interval.
OpenjobMetis opens the third period exactly as it did in the second, extending with a 9-0 run before Spanghero, from three points, scores the first Juventus field goal of the second half (45-28 at 25'). Derthona takes courage and, after having rounded the 30th minute mark at 56-41, closes the deficit to a single digit at the start of the fourth quarter thanks to the personality of Meluzzi (5 points and a defensive recovery) and Quaglia's baskets ( 5 in the quarter), until the final 68-59.
The next Juventus match is scheduled for Saturday afternoon in Borgosesia against Pall. Biella: the tap-off is scheduled for 18.00 pm.
Thus coach Lorenzo Pansa: “We spread offensive quality over more minutes than in the match against Casale Monferrato, and every time we were fluid in our executions we managed to create open shots. Defensively we played an extremely stubborn game, which allowed us to immediately mend the gap at the beginning of the second and the beginning of the third quarter, coming back in close contact with our opponents."
