Bertram Derthona returns to victory against Benacquista Latina 78-71
Bertram Derthona – Benacquista Latina 78-71
(27-17,49-35, 63-56)
BERTRAM DERTHONA: Stefanelli 3, Cremaschi ne, Alibegovic 11, Sorokas 19, Radonjic 2, Quaglia 6, Garri 16, Gergati 4, Johnson 15, Pilati ne, Spanghero 2. All Pansa.
BENACQUISTA LATINA: Hairston 18, Tavernelli 7, Ranuzzi 2, Saccaggi 8, Allodi 5, Pastore 7, Di Ianni, Ambrosin ne, Raymond 24, Cavallo ne. All. Gramenzi.
With an evident demonstration of unity, bringing all the players used on the scoresheet, Bertram Derthona manages to overcome one of the best teams in this championship: with Latina it ends 78-71, at the end of a match conducted from start to finish with personality and attitude.
Good start from Benacquista all by Hairston, but Johnson's long-range break, with three consecutive triples, and the subsequent bomb from captain Garri, lead the Lions to lead the match (13-8) after 5'. Latina shortens with Raymond (15-15) when there are 4 minutes left in the first quarter, but Bertram Derthona doesn't give up an inch and thanks to two triples from Alibegovic, he closes the first quarter on +10 (27-17). In the second quarter, coach Pansa's men try to push forward. Quaglia responds to Raymond's attempts, Johnson and Sorokas are unforgiving from the three-point line, thus extending the points separating the two teams to 16 (47-31), a prelude to the 49-35 for Bertram Derthona on which we go to interval. At the restart Saccaggi and Hairston lead Benacquista under, reducing the gap to eleven points. Latina proves to be a tough opponent, finding two long-range baskets with Saccaggi and Pastore, and reduces the distance to just eight points near the third siren. Latina continues its comeback up to 71-66 which enters the last two minutes, but it is Sorokas, with a triple from the wing and a basket approaching, who repels the last assault and starts the closing credits of the sixteenth Bertram Derthona's championship success.
Lorenzo Pansa: “I congratulate our players, especially for the 30 minutes in which we returned to playing with very good offensive fluidity and cynical defensively in taking away the three points from Raymond. In attack, the big difference between a match like this evening's and the ones played against Legnano is understanding that, after having gained the maximum advantage, we must continue to maintain our offensive fluidity. We then tried to resolve the match alone even if the result was not the same. I prefer to keep the first 30" to myself."
