Bertram Derthona returns to victory against Cuore Napoli 87 to 72
BERTRAM DERTHONA – HEART OF NAPLES 87-72
(25-23, 21-15, 23-13, 18-21)
BERTRAM DERTHONA: Meluzzi 8, Stefanelli 4, Sorokas 13, Radonjic 9, Divac 3, Apuzzo, Quaglia 6, Garri 7, Mei 14, Johnson 12, Spanghero 11. All. Pansa
HEART OF NAPLES: Sorrentino, Basabe 27, Malfettone ne, Carter 13, Fioravanti 9, Mastroianni 2, Zollo ne, Mascolo 1, Gospelov 6, Ronconi, Maggio 4, Nikolic 10. Coach Ponticiello
Notes: first half: 46-38. Partials: 25-23, 21-15, 23-13, 18-21
Bertram Derthona shakes off the negativity of recent weeks and convincingly beats Cuore Basket Napoli 87-72, in a more difficult match than the initial conditions would suggest. The merit of the Bianconeri is that they played a continuous match with some errors but without ever losing control of the operations. After a good first half with nine players on the scoresheet, the decisive break came in the second part of the third quarter in which the Bianconeri conceded only two points (60-49 at 25', 69-51 at 30')
VOGHERA. Napoli started off strong straight away with their new signing Melsahn Basabe who, in the very first moments of the game, scored five points. For the Lions the prompt response came from the hands of Johnson and the triples from Radonjic and Spanghero, setting the scoreboard at the moment 8-8. The first mini break for Tortona comes again from the hands of the Radonjic-Spanghero duo from the seven meter range and from the winning tap-in of the Lithuanian Sorokas. After the partial of 8-0 (18-10) for the hosts, coach Ponticiello is forced to call a time-out. In the first eight minutes of the game we are seeing a Derthona with a completely different attitude in defense compared to the last two outings. However, a turnover by point guard Spanghero and the subsequent basket by Carter put the guests back just two points behind (20-18). The first quarter ends 25-23 with the teams fighting point to point. For the hosts the rotation is already complete with ten men. In the second quarter we continue to travel point to point. Maggio and Basabe respond to Stefanelli's four consecutive points, but captain Garri, on free throws, and Mei from the three-point line try to extend the distance by accumulating the greatest advantage seen so far (42-35). The teams go straight to the locker rooms with Johnson's made in USA basket at the siren. The third quarter will resume with a score of 46-38. After 30 seconds Tortona's lead increases with Quaglia. The two points of the big man from the black and white jersey give Tortona the maximum advantage in double figures. Fioravanti tries to respond to the inertia that is taking over the match with the Lions leading with Spanghero and Sorokas. Carter still manages to send the ball from the three-point corner into the net after a close marking by Sorokas and, with the consequent point from Basabe, comes the break for Cuore Napoli. Mei and Meluzzi produce seven points bringing the team to +18, Basabe's entry is not enough to make anything change. The teams go into the final act with a score of 69-51 with all of coach Pansa's men on the scoresheet. The usual Basabe and Mastroianni reduce the deficit by four points, but Mei and Garri's bombs five minutes from the end extend the deficit to +22, confirming the Lions' full control of the match. Tortona closes 87-72 with Johnson, Mei, Spanghero in double figures, Sorokas hits yet another double double.
Lorenzo Pansa: “This was a match with a high difficulty coefficient. This is a team that has grown a lot and the rankings don't speak adequately. This week they added a player with a positive impact. We were coming off two defeats in a row, I can only congratulate the team who worked very well during the week."
