Race 2: Derthona 75 Trieste 81
DERTHONA 75
TRIESTE 81
DERTHONA BEARS: Spissu 9 (3/3 from 2p, 1/5 from 3p), Gay ne, Markus ne, Tava ne, Reati 8 (1/1, 2/12), Bianchi 1 (0/2 from 3p), Marks 15 (5/7, 1/2), Simoncelli 5 (1/3 from 3p), Garri 19 (5/8, 0/2), Antonietti, Iannilli 4 (2/2), Brooks 14 (3/5 , 0/2). Coach Demis Cavina
ALMA TRIESTE: Parks 18 (9/17, 0/2), Bossi 8 (1/2, 1/3), Coronica, Nelson 14 (3/6, 1/2), Pecile 12 (1/3, 1/ 2), Baldasso 5 (1/1, 1/2), Landi 2 (1/1, 0/2), Prandin 13 (2/4, 2/3), Pipitone 4 (1/1), Canavesi 5 ( 2/3). All. Eugenio Dalmasson
REFEREES: Masi, Di Toro, Squacci
NOTE. First half: 39-39. Partials: 23-13, 16-26, 17-22, 19-20.
3-point shots: Tortona 5/28 (18%), Trieste 6/16 (38%). Rebounds: Derthona 33 (Garri 8), Trieste 28 (Parks 9). Free throws: Derthona 22/28 (79%), Trieste 21/26 (81%). Assist: Derthona 8, Trieste 13 (Pecile 4). Fouls made: Derthona 27 (Brooks out for 5 fouls), Trieste 27 (Parks out for 5 fouls). Spectators: approximately 1000.
VOGHERA. Tortona starts off strong, but then the lights go out and Trieste takes over PalaFerraris 81-75. There is a desire to win (both teams throw themselves at every ball), a temporal flashback (sprint start of the Lions as in game 1) and several dialogues (coaches Dalmasson and Cavina engaged with the referees). However, the final twist in favor of the Lions is missing. Little by little the PalaFerraris fills up: the first ring of the building is full. Gun's N' Roses' "Welcome to the Jungle" plays on the loudspeaker before the race and the Lions start off strong. Reati scores a bomb which is followed by a penetration by Marks and a tap in by Iannilli. Ready to go and it's immediately 14-2 for Tortona with a two-handed nail by Brooks and a basket plus a foul by Marks. Dalmasson reviews the specs of game 1 and calls a time-out with 6'43'' left in the quarter. Trieste continues to understand little and Tortona behind puts soul in defense: the guests are stopped at one basket after the first 5'. Pecile gets things going with five points in a row, but the breakdown continues and the first quarter is all for the Lions: it ends 23-13. The second period begins and the blackout arrives. Garri scored four points in a row, but after several turnovers by the Bianconeri Cavina called a time-out with Brooks having two fouls on the bench for the entire period. In the middle of the quarter the score is still 10 points (31-21), but Trieste is a tough nut to crack and relies on the explosiveness of Parks and the wisdom of Pecile. The Piedmontese no longer construct clean shots and the red and whites return to -5 with Cavina enraged. The comeback is complete and at halftime: the Lions have squandered the advantage (39-39). Dalmasson is forced to keep Parks out, Brooks scores four points in the low post. Trieste defends strongly, but after just three minutes concedes the bonus. The match is point to point, PalaFerraris pushes the Lions who shoot from long range with 13% and Trieste tries to escape. Parks nails a block and goes to score on the opposite side: the third period ends 61-56 for the guests. In the last quarter there is a timid attempt at a comeback, but with 6' to go Trieste leads 66-63 and will maintain the advantage until 2' to go. Simoncelli scores the most important three-pointer of the match and Marks equalizes. But Trieste doesn't give up: Bossi and Nelson dig the last furrow. The series is at 1-1.
