From -13 to their first win of 2026: Derthona sweeps PalaDesio
Acqua S.Bernardo Cantù – Bertram Derthona Tortona 79-85
(27-19, 44-46, 62-62)
Cantu: Gilyard, Moraschini, De Nicolao 5, Ballo 11, Bortolani 23, Molteni NE, Sneed 8, Basile 9, Green 19, Ayayi 4, Zimonjic NE, Okeke NE. Coach: Brienza.
Tortona: Vital 14, Hubb 10, Gorham 10, Pecchia 2, Chapman 9, Bresciani NE, Tandia NE, Strautins 19, Baldasso 8, Olejniczak 10, Riismaa 3. All. Fioretti.
Referees: Giovannetti of Bari, Dori of Venice, Catani of Pescara.
After three consecutive victories that mathematically qualified for the Final Eight of the Italian Cup, Bertram Derthona Tortona started 2026 in the best possible way, defeating Acqua S.Bernardo Cantù 79-85 in a comeback after starting the match at the PalaDesio down by 13 points.
Five players scored double figures for Mario Fioretti's team, led by Arturs Strautins, the game's MVP, who scored 19 points with 3/4 two-pointers, 3/4 from the perimeter, and 4/5 free throws. The Latvian was key in the final minutes with two commanding three-pointers.
Bertram's perfect comeback against Cantù
The first game of the year began with an overwhelming start to the game by the home team, who reached their maximum lead of the game at +13 (18-5) with 6:10 left on the clock in the first quarter thanks to triples by Giordano Bortolani and the offensive contribution of Erick Green.
Bertram's immediate response was not long in coming, with the league's leading scorer, Vital, scoring the first points of the game (14 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists), putting together a 10-0 run that reeks of pride. The comeback was completed at the end of the second quarter, with the Bianconeri leading 44-46 at halftime, thanks in part to powerful dunks from Gorham (10 points) and Chapman.
Both teams' pace slowed in the third quarter, with Brianza's shooting percentages falling and Bertram's offense becoming less dynamic. Two consecutive three-pointers from Hubb (10 points and 7 assists) gave the Bianconeri hope early in the second half, but the score was tied at 62-62 at the end of the fourth quarter.
Continuing the evenly matched first thirty minutes, the final quarter saw the two teams playing point-for-point. Bertam reached a six-point lead (64-70) with a dunk by Gorham with 6:46 left, while Grant Basile's seven consecutive points restored the lead (75-74) to Cantù with 4:25 left.
The finale, however, was all black and white: with an 11-0 run and two clutch triples from Strautins, the team coached by Mario Fioretti took home their fourth consecutive championship victory, their first of 2026. The Bianconeri achieved their tenth victory in fourteen matchdays played in the LBA.
PHOTO CREDIT: Ciamillo-Castoria
