Derthona excels
Derthona closes the Tuscan triptych by also returning victorious from Livorno with the final score of 63-66, obtained thanks to a decisive extension in the third quarter, after the first part of the match characterized by a substantial balance. An even more valuable success considering Venuto's absence, out for about a month due to a microfracture in his foot. Without the starting point guard, additional work in the direction of the various Gioria, Vitali and Viglianisi: in particular the latter sacrifices his offensive nature for the cause in favor of contingent necessity, limiting the contribution of points.
Positive start for the Bianconeri thanks to the good streak of Samoggia who puts the guests ahead +7 in the middle of the first quarter at 4-11. But the reaction of the Livorno team was not long in coming and led by Sanguinetti (in the end with a double double of 20 points and 11 rebounds) the recovery was soon made, even managing to get ahead at the end of the quarter: 15-13. We fought on equal terms at the start of the second quarter until a timid Tortonese extension with Rotondo at 24-27 then the inertia passed completely to the Tuscans who with the Sanguinetti - Gigena axis reached the maximum advantage of +8, and only the counter-offensive of Gioria limits Labro's advantage to the long interval at +5 (35-30).
War of nerves between the two teams, upon returning from the changing rooms with a consequent unbalanced score: Sanguinetti and Vallini respond to the conclusions of Cernivani and above all Samoggia, but towards the end Derthona takes advantage of the home team's poor percentages, extending further with Gioria and Strotz, closing the third quarter at 45-53 with a bomb from Cernivani. At the start of the last half Livorno closes to -3 at 50-53 then a providential bomb in the 5th minute by Vitali brings the host's advantage back to +6 and in the final the experience of Arioli's boys gets the better of the impetuosity of the youngsters Tuscans: Vitali (5 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists), Gioria (10 points and 5 rebounds), Rotondo (16 and 8) and Samoggia (21 and 13) are the guarantee to bring home another two points closing at the final siren at 63-66.
In the standings, Fortitudo (with whom we are ahead by virtue of head-to-head matches) wins and remains at 6 points, while third place seems to be a done deal for Piacenza. Ultimately however, Alessandria moves away from the queue, and Derthona promises a return to the clock phase both on the beaches and on the Tuscan hills: read Livorno and Castelfiorentino. So the Bianconeri in the last round of the round-robin, next Saturday at the PalaCamagna against Mortara at 21.00 pm, can guarantee that they will end the season in first place and, despite the four additional matches after Easter, be seeded first, with everyone the decisive clashes of the playoffs, at home.
