Bertram Derthona beats Mantua in the first outing of the Memorial Matteo Bertolazzi
Bertram Derthona – Mantua Stings 88-66
(14-18, 36-34, 62-48)
Derthona: Meluzzi 8, Sorokas 13, Radonjic 17, Divac 3, Apuzzo 3, Quaglia 3, Garri 8, Mei 3, Johnson 13, Spanghero 17. All. Pansa
Mantua: Jones 8, Costanzelli 2, Brownridge 13, Caroldi 4, Ferrara 2, Timperi 7, Candussi 10, Morello, Gergati 5, Cucci 15. Coach Lamma
A good Derthona wins the final of the 2nd Memorial Matteo Bertolazzi, overcoming the rivals of the Stings Mantova at a distance. After a first quarter in favor of their rivals from the previous playoffs, the Lions were able to take control of the inertia of the match thanks to an increased defensive resistance, overtaking at the end of the second period with Spanghero, and then extending decisively in start of third quarter. It is the team defense and the baskets of a furious Melvin Johnson (9 almost consecutive) that are responsible for the 13-0 run that brings Derthona to 56-43 in the 26th minute, which puts the match in favor of the Bianconeri.
In the fourth period Radonjic also lights up, sealing a great offensive performance, reaching Spanghero as the top scorer of the match at 17, imitated within a few minutes by Apuzzo and Quaglia, who close a match in style in which all ten players on the scoresheet they scored from the field.
Tomorrow the Bianconeri will be on the pitch for the final for 1st place with tap-off at 20.00 pm against the winner of the second semi-final between Vanoli Cremona and Agribertocchi Orzinuovi, on the pitch from 20.30 pm on Saturday evening.
Thus coach Lorenzo Pansa: "We approached the match a little too softly, but managed to hold on from a defensive point of view, which allowed us to stay in contact and end the first half slightly ahead when the things have improved. In the third quarter the nervous impact on the game radically changed, an aspect on which we managed to build open shots by attacking every situation much more aggressively and continuing to defend solidly."
