Venice starts strong and wins 89-82: 1-0 in the series for Reyer
Umana Reyer Venice – Bertram Derthona Tortona 89-82
(22-23, 51-40, 65-55)
Venice: Tessitori 7, Cole 20, Horton 12, Lever NE, De Nicolao, Candi 2, Bowman 2, Wheatle 7, Nikolic 5, Parks 15, Witljer 4, Valentine 8. All. Spahija.
Tortona: Vital 16, Hubb 20, Gorham 1, Manjon 6, Pecchia 2, Chapman 2, Tandia NE, Baldasso 15, Strautins 14, Olejniczak 4, Biligha 2, Riismaa NE. All. Fioretti.
Referees: Lanzarini of Bologna, Gonella of Genoa, Valzani of Taranto.
Bertram Derthona Tortona lost 89-82 at the Palasport Taliercio in Game 1 of the LBA playoff quarterfinals, with Umana Reyer Venezia taking a 1-0 series lead. See you on Tuesday the 22nd at 20:30 PM to tie the series in Game 2.
The scoring performances of four black and white players in double figures on the away match against the orange and black team weren't enough: Prentiss Hubb scored a losing effort of 20 points, Christian Vital scored 16, Tommaso Baldasso scored 15 points with 5 rebounds, while Arturs Strautins finished with 14 points.
Reyer Venezia prevails in Game 1
Bertram's first lead of the game came at 6-4 after a strong drive from Ezra Manjon, in a Game 1 start with high percentages for both teams. Reyer responded with a 9-0 run that pushed the Orogranata up 15-8 after four minutes of play. The Lions responded, led by individual efforts from Christian Vital and Arturs Strautins, while Captain Baldasso's bomb at the end of the first quarter gave Bertram the lead at 23-22.
Neven Spahija's team opened the second quarter with a 7-0 run, interrupted by another Baldasso shot. After three minutes, Carl Wheatle hit a world-class three-pointer to give Reyer an eight-point lead (34-26). The home team racked up several second-chance offensive rebounds and upped the pace, taking a 12-point lead (45-33) after a fastbreak dunk by Jordan Parks. A two-and-one by Strautins attempted to spark Derthona's momentum, and after twenty minutes of play, they trailed at 51-40.
The second half began at a slower pace than the first, with both teams looking for solutions inside the paint. The Bianconeri's percentages dropped, while Venice maintained a 15-point lead (61-46) midway through the third quarter. Before the quarter's conclusion, Brekkott Chapman and Prentiss Hubb mounted a 6-0 run to bring Bertram back to within 10 (65-55).
As before, the home team reacted early in the fourth quarter, with RJ Cole's three-pointer with 7:40 left to make it an 18-pointer (75-57). Hubb's pride, scoring four straight points, and Baldasso's three-pointer with 4:50 left seemed insufficient to encourage the Bianconeri to make a final comeback. Instead, with a minute to play, Hubb made it four points behind (84-80) after another three-pointer from beyond the arc. The Bianconeri's reaction, however, was too late, and Reyer took Game 1.
PHOTO CREDIT: Ciamillo-Castoria
