Derthona-Pall.Varese 74-71
TORTONA BEARS 74
OPENJOBMETIS VARESE 71
TORTONA BEARS: Greene IV 10, Cosey 16, Alviti 10, Ricci 13, Sanna 2, Reati 12, Conti, Mascherpa 4, Garri 3, Pilati ne, Cucci 4, Apuzzo ne. Coach Demis Cavina
OPENJOBMETIS VARESE: Avramovic 15, Pelle 9, Bulleri 14, Devita 4, Lobiondo ne, Kangur 4, Anosike 14, Ferrero 11, Campani, Canavesi. Coach Paolo Moretti
NOTE. First half: 38-42. Partials: 18-22, 20-20, 17-19, 19-10. Spectators: approximately 150.
TORTONA. For the second outing of the season (the first was with Toulon, French Pro A) Derthona beat Pallacanestro Varese who play in A74 in the luxury friendly match 71-1. Cavina has all the players available, even Sanna who was missing with the French, while Majnor, Eyenga, Johnson and Cavaliero are missing for the guests. Same Lions quintet seen with Toulon: Greene IV, Cosey, Ricci, Reati and Garri. Varese starts with Avramovic, Kangur, Ferrero, Anosike and Campani. Ricci and Cosey score (5 points) and already halfway through the first quarter Cavina introduces Cucci and Alviti. Tortona plays on par with Varese, proving to be tough in defense and attack, already showing some good spacing. The Lions get the satisfaction of being in front, at the end with a 9-0 run (including a dunk by Pelle) Varese closes 22-18. The second period begins (the score being a friendly match is reset to zero at every quarter). At mid-period Tortona is ahead 11-6 with a quintet with four wingers (Mascherpa, Alviti, Green VI and Sanna) with only Garri as a long player. The second period is point to point and ends 20-20. After the long break Greene VI and Cosey immediately score two bombs and it's 6-2 Tortona. Ferrero hits two three-pointers and with 2' to go with a support from Pelle the guests take the lead 14-11 and again at the end they win the quarter (19-17). Tortona also starts strong in the last half with five points scored by Reati. The Lions are keen to win and defend strongly: the Tortonesi take home the fourth and a prestigious friendly match against an A1 team.
Post-race interviews with Demis Cavina and Giampaolo Ricci:
