Derthona concedes an encore: Latina defeat with a great second half
Bertram Derthona-Benacquista Latina 83-77
(22-19, 39-43, 60-60)
Scoreboards:
Derthona: Ciadini ne, Valle ne, Buffo, Formenti 2, Seck ne, Gaines 20, De Laurentiis 13, Mascolo 8, Čepić, Gražulis 17, Martini 11, Pullazi 12. Coach Ramondino
Latina: Musso 10, Cassese 1, Di Pizzo, Romeo 6, Pepper 18, Bolpin 8, Raucci 7, McGaughey 6, Ancellotti 21, Di Prospero ne. All. Gramenzi
Second consecutive success for Bertram Derthona, still without Tavernelli, who prevailed over Latina at the end of a balanced match and resolved only in the final stages by the baskets of De Laurentiis, Gražulis and Pullazi. The start of the match was characterized by balance on the pitch: Bertram found good team solutions, while Latina relied on the verve of Ancellotti (who had already scored 13 points with 100% from the field in the first 10') to move the score. The first half of the game is closed by Pullazi's penetrating basket, which sets the score at 22-19. In the first minutes of the second second quarter the Lazio players - thanks to collective solutions - overtake (31-34 at 15'), forcing coach Ramondino to stop the operations. Coming out of the time-out, Derthona raises the intensity of their defense and returns to lead; in the end Benacquista, with Musso's plays, took the lead (39-43 at the long interval). Bertram made a sprint start upon returning from the changing rooms: the 7-0 score by Pullazi-Mascolo-Martini was worth 46-43 in the 22nd minute. Latina's reaction comes with a counter break of 0-10 which is worth the guest's maximum advantage in the match (46-53), then updated to +9 (48-57) by McGaughey's goal. In the final stages of the third period, Derthona impacted the game led by the baskets of De Laurentiis - author of 7 consecutive points - at 60 (in the 30th minute). Another play from the center led to the overtaking (62-60) at the start of the final period, which - in the following minutes - saw a great balance on the pitch. Bertram tries to break it by producing a 5-0 break in the middle of the half (71-66 at 35') which forces coach Gramenzi to suspend the match. Two goals by Ancellotti shorten the gap between the two teams (74-72 in the 37th minute); it is then Gražulis (protagonist with 8 consecutive points) who gives the Lions a two-possession advantage (79-74 in the 39th minute). An icy Musso then converted three free throws and brought Latina back to just two points behind, before Mascolo and Pullazi, perfect on the line, gave Bertram the win, who prevailed 83-77.
