Thrilling final in Bologna: Derthona beaten at the end
Virtus Segafredo Bologna – Bertram Derthona
Scoreboards:
(18-25, 44-43, 67-61)
Derthona: Christon 32, Mortellaro ne, Candi 9, Tavernelli, Filloy 3, Severini 10, Harper 15, Daum, Cain 6, Radošević 6, Macura 9, Filoni ne. All. Ramondino
Virtus: Mannion 5, Faldini ne, Belinelli 32, Jaiteh 2, Lundberg 2, Shengelia 7, Hackett 4, Mickey 11, Camara ne, Weems 13, Ojeleye 15, Abass. All. Scariolo
After a very balanced and emotional match, Bertram Derthona was defeated with great honor in the away match at the Virtus Segafredo Arena 91-90. The Bianconeri, after an excellent start to the match, suffered the return of the home team, led by a fiery Belinelli. The Lions remained in contact throughout the match, leaving the final result open until the last seconds of the game decided by a free throw from Shengelia. Bertram's next match will be Sunday 12 March at 18pm at the PalaEnergica Paolo Ferraris against Tezenis Verona.
Good start to the match for coach Ramondino's boys who started with a 0-5 break signed by Macura and Christon. Virtus shakes off and comes back into contact but, thanks to their long-range precision (4/5 from the arc) and general fluidity in attack, the Lions close the first set on +7 (18-25). Radosevic's triple inaugurates the second half and brings Bertram to +10, before the opponents' reaction: Bologna's 6 consecutive triples seal the comeback and send the teams to the locker room at 44-43.
Upon returning from the locker rooms, Christon, with 4 consecutive points, brings the Lions back ahead, before the subsequent opponent counter break forces coach Ramondino to time out (57-53 with 5'12''). In the second half of the quarter a new offensive gust signed by Belinelli brings the home team up 8 with 2'06'' left. Bertram manages to stay in contact; Ojeleye's triple at 10'' closes the third quarter 67-61. Three consecutive triples inaugurate the last quarter (Severini, Ojeleye and Filloy) and reduce Bertram's gap (70-67 with 8'35''). The match continues with a back and forth from both teams with the home team always ahead by one/two possessions. The unsportsmanlike whistle given to Hackett against Severini kicks off a new minibreak for Derthona signed by the Juventus number 20 which brings the teams back to perfect parity (77-77 with 5'10'' left). The last minutes of the game are heart-pounding: the teams chase each other with overtaking and counter-overtaking. A 4-point play by Belinelli with just under a minute left seems to definitively close the match, but Christon equalizes again from long range with 13'' left (90-90). It's Shengelia from the line who closes the game 91-90.
Thus coach Marco Ramondino at the end of the race: “Congratulations to Virtus for the victory. It was an excellent match, very hard fought and balanced, nice to train and play, a little less to lose. Thanks to our opponents who I believe used all their quality both on a strategic and technical/tactical level to win the match. For our part, I think it was a very good match both in terms of consistency and content. We had a good presence throughout the match: we were ahead, we made some mistakes and went behind, then we got back into the match and therefore I believe that, both from the point of view of "presence" in the match and from the point of view coach, it was a very good match. Especially on an offensive level: we moved the ball well against their physicality and their aggression which in certain moments became really difficult to manage. In defense we were good despite having to "run after him", especially when Belinelli came on we started making substitutions and consequently we had the mismatch to manage but in any case we were there. They really made some great plays, they tried solutions to explore those particular advantages they could have so credit must be given to Virtus for the performance and the victory they achieved."
