Mortara avenged, Fortitudo returns after Easter
Derthona – Mortara 79-72
(28-17, 16-17, 11-25, 24-13)
Derthona : Rotondo 22 (8/12, 1/2), Cernivani, Vitali 11 (1/3, 1/6), Gioria 11 (3/5), Gatti 3 (1/5 from three), Samoggia 27 (6/ 8, 3/8), Strotz 2 (1/2), Viglianisi 3 (0/2, 1/3) NE: Stanojevic, Gay. Coach: Arioli
Free throws: 20/30 – Rebounds: 37 26+11 (Round 9) – Assists: 11 (Vitals 3)
Mortara: Del Sorbo 8 (4/11, 0/3), Fant, Cavallaro 17 (3/8, 3/8), Grugnetti 12 (3/6, 2/4), Mossi 29 (4/6, 4/9 ), Di Paola 4 (2/3), Tardito 2 (1/4, 0/1) NE: Avanzini, Ratti, Bossi. Coach: Zanellati
Free throws: 11/16 – Rebounds: 30 23+7 (Mossi 8) – Assists: 6 (Grugnetti, Mossi 2) – Five fouls: Del Sorbo, Di Paola
Proud victory for Derthona against Mortara, in the last match of the qualifying phase, thus consolidating the lead of the Bianconeri in the standings, who after the Easter break will begin the clock phase by hosting (Wednesday 23rd at 21.15 pm) Fortitudo who, winning in Cecina it confirms its place of honor.
Against Mortara, fresh from three consecutive defeats, the Bianconeri took a big risk in the final, after having started the match rather well and then dissipated the lead in the third quarter. Although still without Venuto due to injury, Arioli's boys start in fourth (10-3 at 5') with two bombs from Vitali and Viglianisi. The Lomellini are entrenched in the area and Derthona adapts by looking for the big men who respond properly: in particular Samoggia stands out (15 points for the Sardinian in the first half alone) and ends up ahead 28-17.
The trend is confirmed in the second quarter, where first Rotondo has the greatest impact on the visiting defense and then also Strotz who lights up the stands of the stadium with a dunk on the counterattack to make it 39-26 in the 5th minute.
Everything seems to go smoothly for the Tortona team who even reach their maximum lead at 43-28, but the Lomellini team doesn't disunite and dragged by the coolness of Mossi (15 points in half the match) they go into the locker room 10 points down at 44-34. Upon returning, as too often happens at Derthona, it was a crisis for the lions who in three minutes were sucked in by the guests with a 13-2 run, thanks to a relaxed defense incapable of containing the bombs of Mossi and Cavallaro. Now it's the home team's turn to chase their opponents who will maintain their lead, albeit narrowly, until the end of the third quarter (55-59). Gioria is the emblem of the Juventus resistance, trying to contain the attacks of Mossi & co. on defense, and gaining important points and rebounds on offense. The last quarter begins with many doubts and the only certainty: it will be a point-to-point fight until the end and so it is! Mortara closes in defense and Derthona would need a shock: a bomb from Gatti seems like a good start, but other long-range shots from Cernivani fail to find the net and everything seems more difficult. It's still up to the senators to remove the chestnuts from the fire: with a triple from Samoggia the Lomellini are caught in the 5th minute at 64 all and then overcome with a three-point play from Gioria.
Every ball becomes important, but balance reigns supreme even in factors that could make the slightest difference such as rebounds (Rotondo like Di Paola and Tardito) and free throws (errors on both sides). In the moment of truth, however, Derthona finds the right shot: on 72 equal to 30" from the end, driven by the cheering from the stands, Samoggia scores the bomb which seals yet another commendable performance (27 points and 7 rebounds) and immediately after Viglianisi he steals the ball from an exhausted Grugnetti, for Vitali's counterattack which definitively ends the hostilities in our favor 79-72.
Now ten days of competitive rest before the four additional races of the clock phase.
Derthona only needs one success to have the mathematical certainty of first place in the playoff grid which will begin on May 10th. Fortitudo and Piacenza at home, interspersed with Castelfiorentino and CUS Torino away: this is the schedule of the four matches that will be played in the space of just ten days. It begins on Wednesday 23 April (21.15 pm) with the long-awaited return to the PalaCamagna of the Fossa dei Leoni in Bologna. The successes obtained both in the championship opener and in the return to PalaDozza remain unforgettable, but the next one will be another story with a Fortitudo strengthened by the new arrivals of Sorrentino and Landi and increasingly under the pressure of the 4000 season ticket holders and the club's aspirations!
