Race 1: Derthona 75 Trieste 70
DERTHONA 75
TRIESTE 70
DERTHONA BEARS: Spissu 11 (3/4 from 2p, 0/1 from 3p), Gay ne, Markus ne, Reati 3 (1/5 from 3p), Bianchi 2(1/2, 0/3), Marks 23 ( 5/7, 3/4), Simoncelli 2 (0/1, 0/1), Garri 18 (5/9, 0/2), Maghet ne, Antonietti, Iannilli (0/3 2p), Brooks 16 (6 /7, 1/2). Coach Demis Cavina
ALMA TRIESTE: Parks 21 (4/9, 3/3), Bossi 15 (6/6, 1/6), Coronica, Nelson 4 (1/3, 0/2), Pecile (0/2, 0/3 ), Baldasso 8 (4/7, 0/1), Landi 7 (1/3, 1/2), Prandin 6 (3/6, 0/1), Pipitone 6 (3/5), Canavesi 3 (1 /2 from 3p). All. Eugenio Dalmasson
REFEREES: Beneduce, Belfiore and Ascione
NOTE. First half: 41-31. Partials: 23-18, 18-13, 17-24, 17-15.
3-point shots: Tortona 5/18 (28%), Trieste 6/20 (30%). Rebounds: Derthona 31, Trieste 30 (Pipitone 9). Free throws: Derthona 20/26 (77%), Trieste 8/10 (80%). Assists: Derthona 10, Trieste 11 (Pecile 5). Fouls made: Derthona 16, Trieste 23. Spectators: 1000.
Derthona wins the first historic play-off match in A75 70-2.
There are around a thousand spectators who still make themselves heard because it is one of those evenings that regardless of how it goes we will hear about it in Tortona for a long time.
Iannilli starts in a quintet with Brooks, Marks, Spissu and Reati. Trieste (supported by around twenty noisy ultras) starts with Parks, the most talented man (16,7 on average), with Nelson, Prandin, Pipitone and Bossi. Marks (ultimately the best with 23 points) is immediately aggressive and scores five points in a row (already 14 at the end of the first half), but Trieste is attached to the match with Parks and Pipitone.
In the middle of the first period Tortona practically did nothing wrong and the first important breakthrough arrived (10-0) with a long range basket by Reati which made it 17-7. However, a shot that hits the scoreboard and a penetration by Prandin put the guests back three points behind: the first period ends 23-18 for Derthona. The match remains intense even in the second quarter. Trieste throws energy on the rebound and Tortona grants a few second chances. But Brooks and two free throws from Marks restore the break: Tortona is +8 halfway through the second period. Dalmasson's players fight like mad, but behind the Lions they are tremendously tough, always forcing shots in the final seconds. It ends 41-31 at the long siren. Parks returns from the break and scores two baskets in a row, Bossi scores a three, Baldasso touches it and Trieste recovers with a 9-2 run (43-40). It's the first difficult moment of the match. Derthona puts the ball in the post and relies on Garri and Brooks: the period ends 58-55. With 7'39'' remaining, Trieste takes the first lead: Canavesi scores from three and gives the guests a 62-59 lead. Tortona feels the fear, Marks still thinks about it from the long run. Bossi scores four points in penetration, but the American on a graceful evening puts Derthona back in front. In the final free throw round Spissu is cold as ice. He finishes 75-70. Honor to Trieste, Derthona's heart was too big.
