Bertram crashes in the sprint against Pistoia
Bertram Derthona – Estra Pistoia 97-100
(25-28, 48-55, 71-76, 97-100)
Scoreboards:
Derthona : Zerini, Tandia ne, Noua 17, Dowe 12, Candi 5, Errica ne, Strautins 5, Baldasso 12, Severini 16, Obasohan 7, Weems 17, Thomas 6, Coach Ramondino
Pistoia : Willis 36, Della Rosa 8, Blakes 6, Moore 24, Dembele n/a, Saccaggi 2, Del Chiaro 6, Biagini n/a, Wheatle 9, Ogbeide 9. Coach Brienza
Home defeat for Bertram Derthona on the 11th day of the championship: Pistoia leads from the first minutes and despite the great comeback in the last minutes of the game by the hosts, Willis' basket at the end allows the opponents to gain 2 points.
Worth noting is the excellent performance of the new signing Amine Noua, author of 17 points and 6 rebounds in 23 minutes of play.
Complex start to the match for Bertram, who suffered the initial break of 0-8 by Pistoia. Candi and Noua – making their debut for Juventus – unblock the Lions, before Willis and Moore push Pistoia to 15-26 in the 7th minute. At the end of the half, coach Ramondino's boys, led by Baldasso and Severini, come back to 25-28 in the 10th minute. In the second period the match is characterized by more balance: Severini and Baldasso impact the match before Pistoia's new attack signed by a 6/7 Willis from beyond the arc which closes the first half at 48-55.
Upon returning from the locker room Noua scores a 5-0 break which is worth the new -3. In the following minutes, the intensity grows in both halves of the pitch and Pistoia continues to lead thanks to Moore's talented plays. Weems and Thomas respond from the paint, keeping Bertram two possessions away (71-76). In the last fraction Pistoia once again leads by more than double figures, before suffering the reaction of Bertram's character, who shortens the lead with triples from Noua and Weems. The ending is thrilling: Baldasso scores the triple to tie the score at 97 with 7'' left, but then Willis at the end - again from beyond the arc - freezes PalaEnergica and gives Estra the success.
Coach Marco Ramondino said after the game: " Congratulations to Pistoia, who deserved to win because they played better than us throughout the game. The first and third quarters were important from a mental standpoint: Willis early in the game and Moore returning from the locker room, in a match where they were able to express their full talent, I think they did some things a little easier and that boosted the team's confidence. We should have tried to "dirty up" the game a little more: today we were never able to take the right hand away from these devastating players, capable of creating for themselves and others. In a match where we made a huge effort physically, we unfortunately made a lot of mistakes in terms of technique and discipline."
