Derthona is heart, emotion and pride until the siren, but Virtus wins the final
Bertram Derthona-Virtus Segafredo Bologna 82-89
(26-21, 55-39, 70-66)
Scoreboards:
Derthona: Mortellaro ne, Hunt 12, Candi 15, Tavernelli, Filloy 4, Severini 4, Harper 9, Daum 17, Cain 2, Radošević 5, Macura 14, Filoni ne. All. Ramondino
Bologna: Cordinier 6, Mannion ne, Belinelli 11, Pajola, Jaiteh 8, Shengelia 11, Hackett 22, Mickey 10, Camara ne, Ojeleye 4, Teodosic 9, Abass 8. Coach Scariolo
A match of the highest level, with a lot of content and a desire to try to extend the series for Bertram Derthona, who has a great impact on the match, resists the attempts to return from Virtus, the great opponent of these three matches, for over thirty minutes, before to suffer the opponent's return. In the final sprint, Bologna's talented play closes Bertram's season, who comes out with her head held high to the applause of her audience.
Great energy start to the match for Bertram, who finds in Macura (9 p) the driving force behind the brilliant offensive start. The great team play allows the team coached by Ramondino to lead from the ball and close ahead 26-21 in the 10th minute. In the second quarter, two consecutive triples from Candi ignite PalaEnergica and push Derthona to their maximum lead at 38-24 in the 14th minute. Despite Virtus' attempts to return, the Lions continue to play with great clarity and lead 55-39 at halftime.
Upon returning from the locker rooms, Bologna switches to zone defense and finds great continuity in the three-point shot, significantly shortening the gap: Hackett's triple is worth -4 (64-60) in the 28th minute and forces coach Ramondino to stop the match . In the final stages the distances between the two teams remain unchanged: in the 30th minute Bertram ahead 70-66. Virtus crowns a long chase, which lasted over thirty minutes, and overtakes with baskets from Cordinier and Belinelli: in the 33rd minute the guests lead 72-78. Derthona resists the opponents' attempts to overrun, thus giving rise to a new sprint finish in Casale: Bologna always maintains a minimal margin of advantage and wins the victory 82-89.
Thus coach Marco Ramondino at the end of the race: “Congratulations to Virtus for winning the match and the series. Tonight the match was tough and intense, with a very high level of adjustments over the forty minutes, even on small things and which players to attack. The match was of the highest level: we must be very proud to have played on equal terms against Bologna. Even tonight, albeit for less time and only in the second half, Virtus' ability to punish our mistakes and the small details necessary to try to win against a EuroLeague level team made the difference. In the first half we played a very good game with few flaws compensated by the great intensity. In the second half Bologna changed defense, breaking our offensive rhythm and we made some mistakes in defense: we must recognize and give great credit to our players for having played point for point until the end. This season has been truly extraordinary for me, very hard and long as happens lately, in which I had the privilege of coaching this team and being part of this Club which has a path with an upward arrow that we will try to carry forward even during the summer".
This is the comment of the President Marco Picchi: “The season was long, as the coach said. I remember that last year ended the same way, with a defeat in front of a large crowd that applauded the team. This year too, our image must be this: a packed stadium that, having acknowledged the defeat against a champion team, applauded the boys. Our team has given the city and the people so much satisfaction and so many emotions that we want to give to the children and families who come. I thank the boys, because tonight's first half shows that our team is really trained and that they feel something inside wearing our shirt: they wanted to make their contribution on the Casale parquet. The compliments of a coach like Sergio Scariolo are a sign of what has been done in recent years by this Club that I am truly honored to represent because the rewards we receive from the world of basketball are truly of the highest level.".
