Alma Trieste – Orsi Derthona 74-60, Derthona's season ends
Alma Trieste – Orsi Derthona 74-60
(16-19, 32-30, 49-50)
Trieste: Parks 16, Bossi 3, Coronica 4, Ferraro ne, Pecile, Baldasso 7, Gobbato ne, Simioni, Prandin 2, Cavaliero 21, Da Ros 16, Cittadini 5. Coach Dalmasson
Derthona: Greene IV 13, Cosey 17, Alviti 2, Ricci 10, Sanna 2, Taverna ne, Conti, Mascherpa 1, Ricci F. ne, Garri 15, Apuzzo ne. All. Cavina
Referees: Borgo di Dueville (VI), Terranova di Ferrara, Gagno di Spresiano (TV)
Notes: T2: Ts 20/36, De 21/42; R3: Rs 8/20, De 4/26; Tl: Ts 10/16, De 6/9.
A leonine Derthona ends its season by losing game 4 of the quarter-final series at the PalaRubini in Trieste 74-60. The final score is far too heavy for an Orsi team that was in the game for a long time, if not ahead in the first and third sets, before being overcome by the strength of the collective in defense, and by the baskets of Cavaliero and Baldasso in attack.
Congratulations go to Alma for what they showed on and off the pitch, and sincere good luck for the rest of the season; Derthona remains the honor of arms at the end of a season more satisfactory than ever and concluded well beyond the most optimistic expectations, combined with the awareness of having given everything possible to overcome the injuries that made the playoff challenges with Mantua and Trieste.
The Juventus start in the decisive game 4 is one that gives us hope. Two consecutive triples from Ricci gave them the first lead (5-10 at 3'); Greene is inspired and Derthona flies to their maximum lead (7-14 at 6'), but Cavaliero leaves no room and with five consecutive points puts them back behind him at the end of the first quarter (16-19).
A three-point play by Parks at the start of the second quarter brings Trieste back into contact; two consecutive baskets from Coronica are worth the overtaking (27-24 at 16') and open the Trieste partial, which continues until Parks scores 32-26. Garri and Cosey put things back on track near the break (32-30), giving rise to a lively third quarter. Derthona wastes a couple of balls to equalize, ends up again at -6 (45-39) in the 25th minute, on Cavaliero's triple, but finds the strength to react with its best scorer, Glenn Cosey: the American from Flint he scores eleven consecutive points and turns the situation around, bringing the Lions up 49-50 at the third siren.
Trieste raises its defense and relies on Cavaliero's experience, drawing inevitable benefits: five points from the latest arrival in the red and white home are worth the counter-overtaking (54-52 in the 32nd minute), which lights up the Alma Arena. A dunk by Parks and a triple by Baldasso build the home team's new lead (63-56 at 35'), which becomes a real escape with two long-range baskets by Cavaliero and Baldasso which make it 69-58. 38'. Derthona did not give up, but tiredness prevailed over lucidity and the final attacks did not succeed.
Thus ends a season of absolute level, with second place in the regular season which is worth the club's best placing ever, and with qualification for the playoff quarter-finals for the second consecutive year.
