Bertram fights and beats a tenacious Libertas Livorno in the second pre-season test
Libertas Livorno – Bertram Derthona 69-82 (21-31, 35-50, 50-61)
Lineups:
Livorno: Hole 2, Banks 17, Bargnesi 9, Fratto 8, Fantoni, Tozzi 11, Filloy ne, Deri, Allinei 8, Baroni, Paoletti 2, Italiano 9, Spinelli, Soviero 3. Coach Andreazza.
Bertram: Zerini ne, Vital 13, Kuhse 12, Gorham 4, Candi 3, Denegri, Strautins 15, Baldasso 10, Kamagate 5, Biligha 9, Severini 4, Weems 7. Coach De Raffaele.
Referees: Ursi of Livorno, Costa of Livorno, Marzulli of Pisa.
Intense friendly for the Bertram Derthona in the second outing of its pre-season. In the PalaMacchia of Livorno, boiling with enthusiasm to see the team of the home team returning to Serie A2 in action, the black and white team beat a combative Libertas Livorno for 82-69. Convincing, also considering the preparation period, the performance in the forty minutes of the Tortona team, who started like a rocket with 50 points and a +15 in the first half and concentrated on repelling the various attempts of the opponents to get back into the game in the second half.
THE MATCH A festive homecoming for Juventus coach Walter De Raffaele, awarded at the start of the game by the Amaranth club and applauded by the fans for his past as a Libertas player. Livorno, without one of the two Americans, Quinton Hooker, and with former Juventus player Ariel Filloy unused on the bench, struggled initially against a Bertram who was immediately on the ball in terms of scoring. Three triples by Vital, Strautins and Kuhse, who also broke through the opposing defense twice in a row in penetration, created an early gap that reached a double-digit lead after a defensive recovery by Strautins closed on the counterattack by another long-distance basket by Vital for 8-20 after less than five minutes. After finishing the first quarter with over thirty points, the repeated production from beyond the arc (8 three-pointers in the first half, 11 at the end of the game) lifts Bertram to a maximum advantage of +18 near the long break with the 32-50 of the 19th minute. Tozzi's buzzer beater and the Banks at the beginning of the second half warm up the home fans who rejoice for the return under the double digit disadvantage signed by the three-pointer of Allinei (48-57 at 27'), in a third period with 11 points scored for Bertram. It is still Vital, although limited by foul problems, to push back the Tuscans who are brought closer by two three-pointers of Tozzi and Soviero, while from Baldasso, Weems and Strautins (in the photo) come the baskets of the new extension on +18, 57-75, which closes the contest with four minutes to go.
“It was definitely a good test, great attitude and energy especially in the first two quarters, then in the second half, especially in the third period, a clear drop in energy also due to the great heat”, the comment of De Raffaele. "There are many things to fix and do better but given the period it is normal, so let's continue and go to the next one. A special thanks for the greeting that my city reserved for me, thanks to the president Roberto Consigli, I hope that Livorno can get some satisfaction in the championship, its organization and its public certainly deserve it".
