The streak of consecutive victories ends at five. Bertram Derthona gives way to Viola Reggio Calabria 84 to 79
Metextra Reggio Calabria – Bertram Derthona 84-79
(21-23, 45-39, 61-55)
METEXTRA REGGIO CALABRIA: Benvenuti 7, Carnovali 8, Baldassarre 6, Caroti 15, Fabi 21, Scialabba ne, Taflaj 2, Pacher 16, Rossato 9, Agbogan, Ciccarello ne. All. Calvani
BERTRAM DERTHONA: Johnson 19, Spanghero 7, Sorokas 16, Garri 13, Gergati 6, Radonjic 5, Stefanelli 6, Quaglia 7, Divac ne, Meluzzi. All. Pansa.
The streak of consecutive victories that had characterized Bertram Derthona is interrupted at five. The Lions, at the end of a hard-fought point-to-point match, gave way 84 to 79 to Metextra Viola Reggio Calabria thanks to the shots of Caroti, Fabi and Pacher. Bertram Derthona found himself opposed to a particularly intense Viola, biting in defense and who found great percentages from the field. Derthona's credit is that of having resisted in front of a noteworthy crowd and of having remained in the match despite a test that was not always continuous, also due to the physical problems that complicated the week of training. Even when Viola found the two triples and moved up to +12, Derthona demonstrated with a lion-like spirit the ability to get back into the game up to a single possession away, but the episodes at the end of the match, and in particular the Pacher's baskets in the final, they wrote the -5 which, despite the defeat, allows the Bianconeri to save the difference in baskets.
THE NEWS. Immediately a good start for the Lions. In the first moments of the game Bertram Derthona took the lead with Captain Garri's dunk but Viola let the game be played point by point. Fabi and Pacher respond to Radonjic and an excellent Johnson who already reaches double figures after just ten laps of the clock. The first quarter thus ends 21-23 for the men wearing the black and white jersey. After 3' Metextra overtakes thanks to Caroti's stop and shot (27-26) but shortly thereafter the first break also arrives for Viola. Triples from Fabi and Carnovali give the home team the maximum advantage with coach Lorenzo Pansa forced to call a time-out with the score 37-29. However, the neroarancio, orphans of Roberts, do not seem to show any difficulties. Sorokas, Gergati and Stefanelli try to keep up with the hosts, but Viola's achievement borders on perfection. We then go to the locker rooms with the score 45-39 for Metextra Reggio Calabria. After almost two minutes of play a sore point arrives for Viola. Pacher's third quarter lasts only 1'50” thanks to the four fouls with coach Calvani who is thus forced to save him for the final quarter. Tortona tries to score points. Garri and Spanghero's triple try to lend a hand but the neroarancio travel on the wave of enthusiasm with Caroti and Rossato. The two teams will thus go to the last act with a score of 61-55. Stefanelli opens the ball immediately, but Carnovali and Fabi continue to score from seven points away (69-57). Break for Tortona who, with a 7-0 run, tries to get the hosts breathing down their necks again. Gergati responds to Pacher with the triple which is worth -2 (72-70) but the American from Metextra continues to grind out points and with one minute left the score is set at 80-75. Heart-pounding final: 24" from the end, Captain Garri scores the two free throws worth -3 (80-77) with the consequent time-out called by coach Calvani for the throw-in to attack. Spanghero's basket isn't enough, it's Caroti who decides the match with free throws. Bertram Derthona thus lost against the neroarancio team 84 to 79.
