IBSA Next Gen Cup, Tortona flies to the final: photo-finish victory over Brescia. Tomorrow on the field for the title.
Allianz Derthona Tortona – Pollini Brescia 66-64
(20-16, 40-32, 49-50)
Allianz Derthona: Cissè 10 (5/7 from two), Brizzi 6 (6 reb.), Lisini, Aprile 4 (6 reb.), Farias 4 (7 ast.), Fogliato ne, Korlatovic 7, Di Meo 6, Bellinaso, Bazan 9 (6 reb.), Albertinazzi 7, Josovic 13 (5/10 from the field, 8 reb., 16 val.). Coach Ansaloni, Assistant Fanaletti, Lombardi.
Brescia: Vezi, Parravicini ne, Festa, Tonelli 19, Reghenzi 2, Fantino 2, Comparoni ne, Toure 6, Mbow 13, Ravera ne, Pollini 18, Pinza 4. Coach Di Matteo.
Allianz Derthona Tortona will play for the final victory of the IBSA Next Gen Cup 2024/25. At the Final Eight in Brescia, the black and white team beat Pollini Brescia in the semifinal by 66-64 and flies for the second consecutive year to the final act of the Legabasket tournament, also this year against EA7 Emporio Armani Milano.
The match at PalaLeonessa A2A starts at a high pace on both sides; Tortona relies on baskets from the paint with Korlatovic, 7 points out of the first 12, but Brescia immediately gets underway with a triple by Toure, 14-12 in the 7th. The advantage for the Bianconeri becomes 4 points, thanks to the prompt response to Tonelli's baskets by Cissè and a free throw by Josovic, thus closing the first ten minutes at 20-16.
“The hosts” start the second half well, closing the gap with Pollini, but Di Meo’s triple and Cissè’s basket allow the first real black and white lead. Tortona annihilates Brescia with an aggressive defense and, thanks to the excellent entries from the bench of Albertinazzi and Bazan who continue to grind out points, the black and white team closes the first half of the game with a +8 (40-32).
The start of the second half features a more determined Brescia on the field with Tonelli taking the Lombard attack on his shoulders, bringing it back to contact at 44-41 at the 26th, with Tortona having difficulty scoring beyond the only baskets by Cissè and Josovic. From here the match heats up with a back and forth from both sides, where Brescia gets the better of it with the final basket by Pollini, taking the lead for the first time and closing the third period at 49-50.
The last quarter of the game also begins with the same balance as at the end of the previous quarter, with the teams exchanging the lead of the game. Tortona tries to extend the lead with a magic shot by Farias who breaks through the Brescia defense and scores the +6 with 5 minutes to go. With some mistakes by both sides in the last minute, the target score zone is set at 66 points, starting from 58-52 in favor of Tortona. Farias himself scores a very important basket but Brescia responds with its top scorers Tonelli and Pollini who tie the match (60-60). Brescia comes within a basket of victory with Pollini's floater (62-64), but Bazan's basket and Cissè's final layup on a perfect assist by Farias, take Tortona to the final for the second consecutive year, closing the game at 66-64.
Andrija Josovic was once again the team's top scorer, with 13 points (5/10 from the field), 8 rebounds and 16 evaluation. Cissè's impact from the bench was also fundamental, scoring the decisive basket for the victory, with 10 points (5/7 from two). An inspired Farias also made a fundamental contribution in the offensive phase, finishing the game with 7 assists. Under the basket, Brizzi, Aprile and Bazan showed great solidity, contributing with 6 rebounds each.
Tomorrow at 14 pm there will be a title challenge against EA7 Emporio Armani Milano: the match will be broadcast live streaming on DAZN, on the website legabasket.it, on the Italbasket Twitch channel and on the ItalHoop Youtube channel.
