Five years ago the triumph at PalaDozza. Coach Arioli's memory: ʺAn unforgettable eveningʺ
A historic triumph, an evening that Juventus fans will never be able to forget: five years ago, on 19 January 2014, Derthona defeated PalaDozza in Bologna with authority, beating Fortitudo Bologna 61-83, inflicting on them their first home defeat of the season and projecting towards a triumphal season finale, culminating in promotion to Serie A2.
Antonello Arioli, then coach of Derthona, wanted to remember that match, starting from the atmosphere that reigned in the days immediately preceding the match: ʺIt was an important challenge for the group standings: we arrived at that match first in the standings and we had already beaten Fortitudo in the first leg, at home. In Bologna there was incredible anticipation for that match, so much so that already on the eve the sports pages of the newspapers were talking about almost nothing else. I remember a packed PalaDozza, there was an atmosphere that we were not used to, but we only felt the emotion before and after the match, as we played an excellent match on the pitch..
The charm of the building in Piazza Azzarita, the coat of arms of Fortitudo, a very warm audience: elements that give even more value to the feat achieved by the Bianconeri five years ago. On the pitch, coach Arioli's team conducted operations from the very beginning ʺhighlighting the limits of a team like Fortitudo, made up of big names who, however, that season, never managed to take advantage of the environment in which they played. They were under the pressure of having to win all year and against us they never found a key to turning the match around..
After managing to stay in touch in the first half (35-39 at 20'), Fortitudo collapsed in the second half against Derthona led by Viglianisi (21 points in the second half) on a great evening: ʺKenneth was not a pure shooter – continues coach Arioli – but I remember he made five triples in the second half. Overall, as a team we came into that match in the best possible conditions and knew exactly what we had to do in every possession: walking out to the applause of PalaDozza at the end of the match was an incredible emotionʺ.
The success of PalaDozza was the decisive test of maturity for Derthona, which from that moment on rose in the standings and launched towards an exciting and historic end to the season, culminating in promotion. Regarding the victory of January 19, 2014, coach Arioli adds that ʺit was the highest point in Tortona's history up to that point. Winning in Bologna as first in the standings against a complete team that fully respected us was something that gave us further strength for the rest of the year. I remember the faces of the fans in the stands and those of the managers: they all expressed a feeling that went beyond satisfaction, it was something beautiful.
