First place mission completed. The U19 Excellence at the National Finals as winners of National Group 1
Allianz Derthona Tortona- Aurora Desio 82-61
(28-11, 47-29, 66-42)
Derthona : Bresciani 5, Fogliato, Albertinazzi 11 (3/4 three-pointers), Tambwe 14 (8 rb), Errica 9 (3/7 three-pointers, 6 ast, 3 rec), Korlatovic 9 (8 rb), Diodati 16, Fonio Fracchia 5 (4 ast), W. Bellinaso 3, Moro 3, Conte 3, Josovic 4. Coach Ansaloni, assistant Tosarelli, assistant Albasini.
Desio : Caprotti, Mauri 9, Elzi 2, Abijo, Borghi, Raffaldi 3, Corti 13, Cividati, Arienti 6, Colzani 10, Presotto 8, Pirotta 10. Coach Badiali.
Referees : D'Errico from Grugliasco (TO) and Mamone from Novara.
Allianz Derthona Tortona has won Group 1 of the National U19 Excellence Championship . The black and white team needed a win to definitively overtake the top spot they achieved with one round to go, and they did not miss the opportunity in the home match against second-place Aurora Desio . On the final day of the championship, the two points against the Lombardy team at the PalaCamagna were never in doubt , with an 82-61 victory certifying victory number 18 in 22 games and the first place finish for the black and white Lions, who thus defeated College Basketball Borgomanero and Pallacanestro Varese, second and third in the group. All three will fly directly to the National Finals in Chiusi (SI) , scheduled for April 29th to May 5th, while Pall. Cantù, fourth in the standings, will have to go through the play-off to qualify for the Italian tournament. Derthona, on the other hand, comes in as the top seed in Group A , where they will face the second-place team from Group 2, most likely Pall. Fulgor Fidenza , and Group 5, CAB Stamura Ancona , and the third-place team from Group 3, Umana Reyer Venezia . After finishing second overall in the Legabasket Next Gen Cup and comfortably staying up after qualifying for the Play-In Silver in the Serie B Interregionale senior championship, this is another prestigious result for the black and white team in this 2023/24 season.
STATEMENT Head Coach Luca Ansaloni : “More than first place, qualifying for the National Finals was important, a goal we had already achieved with two games to spare. First place is a source of satisfaction because we have a head-to-head advantage against the other two teams in the group, which means we performed better than them, as well as all the other teams in the group. We go into the Finals aware of our worth, as it's right that way, but also knowing that we'll have to maintain our balance in the month or so that separates us from the tournament. It won't be an easy task because we have many players who have rotated throughout the season and missed playing due to injury. This will be the most difficult part from now on . ”
