Paffoni Omegna 81 Orsi Tortona 86
Paffoni Omegna: Moore 13, Zanelli 11, Iannuzzi 13, Vildera, Cappelletti 10, Terenzi, Galmarini 8, Casella 12, Banach, Gurini 3, Smith 11. All.Magro
Tortona Bears: Spissu 10, Gay, Markus, Reati 24, Bianchi 9, Simoncelli 2, Garri 20, Maghet, Antonietti, Iannilli 2, Brooks 1. All.Cavina.
It was a complicated away match taking into account the various physical problems that affected the team (Marks out, Iannilli and Bianchi recovered at the last minute) and in the end a well-deserved victory came by 86 to 81.
Coach Cavina starts with Spissu, Simoncelli, Reati, Brooks and Garri. The first basket is by Smith to which Brooks and Spissu immediately respond with two triples. Reati and Garri also join the game with a triple and after two minutes the score is 12 to 4 Tortona. Moore scores twice from three and brings his back into contact. Halfway through the first quarter, perfect parity at 14. Two free throws from Moore give the first internal advantage but Garri and Bianchi bring Tortona back ahead. Coach Magro calls another offensive turnover minute later converted into two points by Bianchi. 18 to 24 guest two minutes from the first interval. Omegna tries to run but is punished by a triple from Reati in transition. An unsportsmanlike whistle on Casella sends Reati to the line for two free throws made and on the throw-in Reati scores again from 3. 32 to 21 Tortona at the end of the first quarter with Reati already at 13 and an excellent 6/9 for the team from 3 points.
The percentages drop at the beginning of the second quarter when Omegna tries to increase the pressure and after 3 minutes the score of the quarter is 4 to 0 for the locals. Tortona is now struggling in attack and a triple from Gurini brings his team back to within 6 (28-34 with 5'40" left before half time). Cappelletti with 5 in a row mends the gap with a partial in the quarter of 12 to 2 which becomes 14 to 2 with Galmarini's basket which also means Omegna takes the lead at 35-34. Bianchi stopped his team's offensive bleeding with a triple from the corner, bringing Tortona back ahead two minutes from the end of the second quarter. Brooks first finds a triple and then a two-pointer to give his team another 4 points advantage. A basket by Simoncelli after a triple by Zanelli closes the quarter. Omegna 41 Tortona 44. 13 points from Reati and 10 from Brooks on one side, 8 from Moore and 7 from Iannuzzi and Cappelletti on the other. Both teams shoot over 50% from the field, for now the difference is made by Omegna's errors from the line. Of note are Spissu's 3 fouls.
We start again with Simoncelli, Reati, Bianchi, Brooks and Garri. The first basket is from Garri and shortly afterwards comes the triple from Reati which brings the guests back ahead by 6 at 49-43. Moore brings Omegna closer with a triple and immediately after Moore again for the home advantage. Unsportsmanlike whistle on Simoncelli and Omegna ahead by 3 but Tortona has no intention of leaving the match and remains in contact with the line. Garri's triple brings Tortona back ahead at 56-54 with 3'38” left and forces coach Magro to call a timeout. Great dunk by Bianchi and another escape attempt by the guest with a triple by Reati for the plus 7. Zanelli immediately replies from 3 and Spissu commits his fourth offensive foul. Reati is unstoppable for the home defense and again plus 6 outside after two free throws from Brooks. 67 to 59 Tortona with a basket of two by Brooks at the siren. Offenses at 21, Brooks at 16 and Garri at 14.
The last quarter opens with errors on both sides: tiredness begins to make itself felt. 4 points from Zanelli and 2 from Casella force Cavina to time out at 67-65 outside, 7 minutes from the final siren. Tortona's rotations are now at their lowest level but Spissu finds two triples for the plus 6 with 4' left. Garri finds the plus 5 on the offensive rebound when the last 2 minutes begin. Garri scores again and is fouled thanks to an assist from Spissu: plus 6 with 1'20” to go. Two free throws for Iannuzzi entering the last minute. Reati scores his sixth triple, widening the external advantage but Omegna doesn't give up: Cappelletti brings him within 2 with a 1 + 3. There are 18 seconds left when Spissu goes to the line and puts two possessions away. It ends 86 to 81 and the Juventus party can begin.
