Bertram Derthona: defeat in the sprint against Pallacanestro Biella
Bertram Derthona – Biella Basketball 70-76
(27-21, 40-38, 60-57)
Derthona: Meluzzi 2, Stefanelli 10, Sorokas 10, Radonjic, Divac 4, Apuzzo ne, Quaglia 6, Garri 11, Mei, Johnson 18, Spanghero 9. All. Pansa
Biella: Ferguson 17, Danna, Sgobba 12, Chiarastella, Ambrosetti ne, Rattalino, Bowers 23, Uglietti 8, Pollone L. 3, Pollone M. ne, Tessitori 13. All. Carrea
Notes: T2: De 18/28, Bi 20/43; T3: De 8/13, Bi 8/22; Tl: De 10/16, Bi 12/19.
Defeat in the sprint for Bertram Derthona, who played a positive friendly on the neutral pitch of Borgosesia against Pallacanestro Biella, led for more than three quarters, but was blown away in the final minutes. The Bianconeri, who found Stefanelli and Johnson again, had the best impact on the match, showing good offensive schemes and excellent intensity in their own half of the pitch. After an initial phase of balance, the Bianconeri put a few points of separation between themselves and Biella, maintaining their margin even during the second period (40-38 at half-time). The third quarter flows along the same lines as the previous two periods, with Derthona attempting an attack and Biella sewing up the score, also thanks to some talented plays first by Bowers, and then by Ferguson. In the last quarter it was the best scorer of last season who took center stage, scoring 6 almost consecutive points which - combined with a step forward from the Biella defense - resulted in a draw and overtaking (62-66 at 35'). Bertram shortens with Melvin Johnson (70-72) with 90" to go, but on the final point to point it is once again Ferguson who scores the basket that is worth the success.
So coach Lorenzo Pansa: “At times we played a very good offensive match, finding good solutions with different interpreters. In the last quarter we fell short in terms of competitive tension and physicality, as demonstrated by the 16 offensive rebounds conceded. In the immediate future we must improve our ability to maintain intensity and quality over 40'.
