U17 Excellence: Allianz Derthona's journey to the National Finals ends in the play-offs.
Stamura Ancona – Allianz Derthona Tortona 81-66
(16-24, 27-14, 17-17, 21-11)
Ancona: Caporaso 01, Latini 5, Acciarri, Papale 28, Bordeianu 2, Virgili 01, Conti 20, Petrelli 01, Poggesi 8, Vuovolo 11, Bosio 7. All. Papi
Derthona: Solazzi 14 (2/7 two-pointers, 3/6 three-pointers, 6 rebounds, 3 ast), Wilkinson 14 (7 rebounds), Zampaloni ne, Obakhavbaye 4 (8 rebounds), Gilli 12 (1/3 two-pointers, 3/6 three-pointers), Chikal, Furfaro 10 (3/4 two-pointers, 1/1 three-pointers, 7 rebounds), De Santis 10, Gregori, Ferrante, Quaini, Montiglio. Coach Roncari, Assistant Gagliardini, Censurini
Allianz Derthona Tortona U17 Excellence's journey to the National Finals concluded in the playoffs. Coach Roncari's team lost to CAB Stamura Ancona 81-66, thus ending their season.
On the Agropoli Palasport court, the game began with a strong start from the Leoni, who built a 12-point lead. The first twenty minutes of the match unfolded in a series of set pieces and counter-sets, with the team from Marche managing to come back and close the first half with a 43-38 lead. After the locker rooms, the tie remained even, until Ancona's decisive run in the final quarter. With four minutes remaining, the deficit reached -9 for the Bianconeri. Furfaro attempted a comeback with a three-pointer, attempting to get back into the game, but CAB Stamura re-established the lead until a double-digit lead at the end. Allianz Derthona thus bowed out of the playoffs, repeating their position from the last three seasons.
Despite today's defeat, the boys' progress throughout the year remains positive. The U17 Excellence team, led by coaches Roncari, Gagliardini, and Censurini, finished the season with 26 wins and 7 losses, earning a spot among the top 12 teams in Italy for the third consecutive year.
