Race 5 Derthona Bears-Dinamica Generale Mantova
VOGHERA. Tortona wins 73-71 game 5 against Mantua and reaches the quarter-finals where it will meet Trieste. Cavina is forced to do without the influenced Alviti, the Derthona coach chooses Cosey, Greene, Sanna, Ricci and Garri. Martellossi starts with Gergati, Amici, Giachetti, Daniels and Candussi. The protagonist at the start of the match is Sanna with five consecutive points (bomb and support). After the first five minutes of the game Tortona is 5-4. Sanna's second foul calls Mascherpa onto the field with a small quintet for Derthona. Greene scores from the long shot and Ricci immediately after, it is the first attempt at a local extension (13-7). The first quarter is for Derthona who closes 19-11 (Mantua with 0/6 from three points).
Cosey's bomb at the start of the second period gives the double-digit lead (22-11). Dynamics has a prolonged moment of rupture. Then Gergati scores in penetration, Cucci enters the match with four points in a row and Derthona doubles Mantua 26-13. Dinamica scores a mini-partial score of 6-0 (Giachetti and Candussi) and Cavina calls a time-out. Tortona returns to the basket with Mascherpa from three, Daniels responds, then Cosey's bomb gives the maximum local advantage (36-22) three minutes before the long interval. Daniels wakes up, Cucci takes a long shot from the corner, Giachetti closes the deficit to 11 points after two quarters (44-33).
Greene steals from Corbett and dunks with two hands at the start of the third quarter, Daniels scores a three-pointer and Mantova comes back down by 8 points (46-38). Dinamica grows above all in rebounding where Tortona struggles and suffers an 11-4 run that brings the guests back four points down (48-44) at mid-period. Five points from Cosey and Derthona breathes (53-46). It ends 54-50 for the Lions.
Garri scores with his back to the basket and three-pointers (59-52), Cosey runs away quickly in transition and Giachetti commits an intentional foul. The American misses the two free throws, but Ricci cuts to the backboard. Daniels maintains great percentages from three points, but Cosey puts in a bomb that puts Tortona back ahead by 9 points with 4'30'' from the end. Amici fouls Cosey while he shoots from long range, the American is cool and makes three free throws (69-58). Tortona gains three consecutive possessions. Martellossi plays the last two and a half minutes with a small quintet. Corbett scores in penetration, Giachetti scores and is fouled (71-65). Casella fires the bomb for -3, Mascherpa scores a free throw and Giachetti hits it from long range on the other side. One out of two from Ricci's free throws, Amici doesn't get the scoreboard with four seconds left. It ends 73-71 for Derthona.
Demis Cavina: «We have achieved a sporting masterpiece. I will struggle to realize what we have done. Also seeing the other playoff matches after such a season against a team that has quality and which we congratulate, with Alviti out and Ricci with a problem in his hand, I don't know how many other groups would have conducted Game 5 like this. I had asked for a team unique between the stands and the field. The last two minutes we made some mistakes. We had a clear technical objective, a great defense and we played a great match. We held them to 60 points in 38 minutes. We allowed a lot of rebounds, we have to be tougher because we are going to play against a deep team like Trieste. The worst moment was the third quarter because we were waiting for a reaction, but we managed to push them back."
Alberto Martellossi: «Good series, two teams that both deserved it. In the first quarter we played better than in all the other quarters in which we missed easy things. Derthona shot 65% from three and we shot 2/14, we raised the percentage but it wasn't enough. Many negative episodes, 50% due to bad luck and 50% due to naivety. Tortona was good at offensive rebounding and we had moments of excessive technical nervousness. We came back late in the match. We should have been more cynical."
DERTHONA 73
MANTUA 71
DERTHONA BEARS: Greene 13, Cosey 26, Ricci 6, Sanna 8, Taverna, Conti, Mascherpa 4, Garri 7, Apuzzo ne, Cucci 9. Coach Demis Cavina
GENERAL DYNAMICS MANTOVA: Daniels 20, Vencato, Giachetti 19, Timperi, Candussi 4, Casella 3, Lusvarghi ne, Amici 4, Corbett 4, Gergati 7, Bryan, Rinaldi ne. Coach Alberto Martellossi
REFEREE: Borgo di Dueville (VI), Foti from Milan, Yang Yao from Vigasio (VR)
NOTE. First half: 44-33. Partials: 19-11, 25-22, 10-17, 19-21.
