Bertram Derthona wins against Cuore Napoli in the difficult away match at PalaBarbuto 82 to 84
Heart of Naples – Bertram Derthona 82-84
(18-18, 37-37, 63-57)
Heart of Naples: Turner 22, Gospelov 8, Ronconi 6, Thomas 14, Mascolo 18, Maggio, Fioravanti 2, Gallo, Caruso 12, Zollo, Crescenzi, Bordi. All
Bertram Derthona: Johnson 25, Gergati 13, Sorokas 17, Spanghero 9, Garri 8, Apuzzo ne, Quaglia 8, Radonjic, Stefanelli 2, Divac 2. All. Pansa
Bertram Derthona wins against Cuore Napoli in the difficult away match at PalaBarbuto by 82 to 84. The Lions managed to cope with the determination shown by the hosts in search of salvation, ending a match that was always in equilibrium. The turning point for the Lions came in the last quarter, with baskets from Sorokas and Johnson determining the result in the final.
Back and forth at the start, with Sorokas and Caruso immediately scoring 4 points, setting the score at parity (6-6). After 3'27” comes Tortona's break, with Spanghero and Garri making the first push, going +6 (8-14). Cuore Napoli reacts and strikes quickly with Turner, Caruso and Gospelov scoring an 8-0 run, thus putting their head back in the lead with a score of 18-16; the first quarter ends at 18-18 thanks to Captain Garri's last basket. In the second period Napoli slowed down slightly, allowing the men in the black and white jersey to extend the lead thanks to Quaglia, Johnson and Gergati, the latter author of 7 points in this quarter. The 9-point advantage does not discourage the hosts who try to stay in touch with the game thanks to baskets from Fioravanti and Mascolo (27-32). Tortona attempts a further extension with Johnson's triple, but Napoli, with Thomas above all, shortens until they go to the locker rooms with a score of 37-37. In the second half the game struggled to unravel and continued to play point to point with Tortona responding to the baskets of Mascolo and Gospelov with Johnson and Sorokas, but Napoli found the three-point solution twice in the final moments of the match with Ronconi and Turner sending Tortona to the last act at -6 (63-57). Johnson, with the triple from the corner plus the free throw for Mascolo's foul, Spanghero and Quaglia who immediately imposed an 8-0 run reacted and brought the Lions back ahead, who extended their lead thanks to Johnson's points (69-75). Cuore Napoli shortens from the perimeter with Mascolo, keeping his teammates clinging to the game with a score of 73-75, then finding the equalizer thanks to free throws with Thomas with 2' left. Sorokas finds two difficult baskets, Turner replies, then Johnson makes the basket which allows the Lions to gain a small advantage which will prove decisive for the result.
