Thrilling final at PalaOltrepò: Gražulis' block gives Bertram success
Bertram Derthona-2B Control Drills 76-75
(19-20, 41-51, 63-61)
Scoreboards:
Derthona: Ciadini ne, Buffo, Formenti 11, Seck ne, Festinese ne, Gaines 19, De Laurentiis, Mascolo 13, Čepić 2, Gražulis 13, Martini 7, Pullazi 11. Coach Ramondino
Trapani: Goins 25, Basciano ne, Renzi 12, Spizzichini 7, Ceparano 2, Mollura, Amici 18, Pianegonda 3, Nwohuocha, Bonacini 8. All. Parente
Second consecutive success for Bertram Derthona, still forced to give up Tavernelli, who prevailed over 2B Control Trapani at the end of a match led by the Sicilians for the entire duration of the first half and resolved by Gražulis's block on Bonacini's final attempt. The match started in favor of Bertram who, after suffering Goins' initial triple, produced a 10-0 run which gave her the maximum advantage (10-3 in the 4th minute). After the time-out requested by coach Parente, the guests found the advantage thanks to a break of 0-8 crowned by Amici's triple and in the following minutes the match was balanced: at 10' Trapani led 19-20. In the second half of the game the guests, with a good shooting percentage from outside, widened their margin, reaching +8 (24-32) in the 12th minute and forcing coach Ramondino to stop the match. In the subsequent stages of the match the Sicilians found a double-digit lead and resisted Derthona's comeback attempt: at half-time the score was 41-51. Upon returning from the locker rooms, 2B Control further increased the gap, before suffering a comeback from Bertram, who returned to two possessions behind (51-57 at 23') forcing coach Parente to interrupt operations. In the following minutes the Lions tied the game by taking advantage of their opponents' offensive decline and great precision in three-point shooting (64% at 28'). Subsequently, with some goals on the line, the Bianconeri returned to lead the match (63-61 in the 30th minute). At the start of the last quarter the team coached by Marco Ramondino further raises the intensity of their defense and, thanks to some collective offensive solutions, reaches the two possession margin (68-63 at 34'), before suffering the return of the Sicilians which impact - thanks to Amici - at 68. Two triples in a row, by Pullazi and Martini, put two full possessions back between the teams; Goins and a 1/2 on the line by Amici close the gap, but Bertram scores on the counterattack with Pullazi's dunk, which makes it 76-72 with 17 seconds to go. Renzi's three-point basket is worth -1 10 seconds before the siren; Derthona loses the ball on the next attack but wins the match with Gražulis's block on Bonacini's attempt at the end.
