Derthona holds its own against Virtus, who extends the lead in the second half and wins Game 1
Virtus Segafredo Bologna-Bertram Derthona 92-80
(27-21, 44-48, 68-56)
Scoreboards:
Bologna: Cordinier 18, Lundberg 15, Belinelli 16, Pajola 4, Mascolo ne, Lomazs ne, Hackett 5, Mickey 6, Polonara 7, Zizic 4, Dunston 8, Abass 9. All. Banchi
Derthona: Zerini 5, Ross 9, Dowe 11, Candi 2, Tavernelli, Errica ne, Strautinš 10, Baldasso 15, Kamagate, Obasohan 9, Weems 9, Radošević 10. Coach De Raffaele
Defeat in game 1 of the playoff quarter-finals for Bertram Derthona, who played on par with Virtus Segafredo Bologna for the entire first half, before suffering the decisive opponent's attack between the third and last quarter. Game 2 is scheduled, again at the Segafredo Arena, on Monday 13 May at 20pm.
High-scoring first period at the Segafredo Arena thanks to the three-point shooting precision of the two teams: Virtus leads for large stretches and closes ahead 27-21 in the 10th minute. In the second quarter Bologna immediately extends to +11, before Derthona reacts - growing in defense and finding good readings in attack - up to -1 (35-34) in the middle of the quarter. The Lions continue in their favorable moment, playing with fluidity: Baldasso and Strautinš make the overtaking move, Radošević takes the lead: at half-time the score is 44-48.
Upon returning from the locker rooms, Virtus impacts the match with a 13-4 which is worth the new advantage: after the 57-52 basket scored by Belinelli, coach De Raffaele stops the match. Bologna increases further in defense and reaches the double-digit margin (65-54 at 27'). In the final stages the gap remained almost unchanged: in the 30th minute the home team was ahead 68-56. In the last quarter the team coached by Banchi manages the accumulated margin, rejects the opponents' comeback attempts and wins game 1 92-80.
So coach Walter De Raffaele at the end of the race: “Bologna showed in the third and fourth quarter what it means to play at a higher level from a physical point of view. We played a playoff match for twenty-four minutes, then our limits and Virtus' merits came to light. The first twenty minutes showed what it takes to compete, but it's not enough.".
