Bertram plays a solid game and an extraordinary last quarter, Leonis gives up
Bertram Derthona-Leonis Roma 88-81
(19-22, 42-49, 61-69)
Scoreboards:
Derthona: Alibegovic 18, Blizzard 7, Buffo ne, Ndoja 9, Ugolini ne, Garri 4, Lusvarghi ne, Viglianisi 7, Bertone 17, Gergati 5, Spizzichini 9, Lydeka 12. Coach Ramondino
Rome: Fall 4, Zeisloft 8, Fanti 6, Infante 5, Loschi 7, Amici 22, Piazza 8, Bushati 4, Torresani ne, Hollis 17. All. Corbani
Victory of great heart and character for Bertram Derthona, who after having chased for more than three quarters, tightened her defense and raised her three-point shooting percentages in the final part, turning the game around and achieving a well-deserved success. After a balanced start to the match, in which both teams found good offensive solutions, it was Leonis - led by Hollis' initiatives - who produced the first break of the match: after the triple of 10-18 (in the 6th minute) scored by American winger coach Ramondino interrupts the game. Coming out of the time-out comes the reaction of the Bianconeri, who raise the intensity of their defense and find a couple of three-point baskets from Alibegovic which shorten the gap: at the first siren Leonis leads 19-22. Bertram comes back into further contact thanks to Gergati, before a 5-0 by Hollis which gives the visitors the maximum advantage in the match (24-31 at 13'): in the following minutes Roma continuously finds the basket from outside - twice with Friends, one with Loschi – which is worth the first double-digit gap of the match (32-42 in the 16th minute). At the end of the first half, Leonis responded to every comeback attempt by the Bianconeri: Alibegovic's basket just before the siren set the score at 42-49 at the break. In the first minutes of the second half, outside baskets by Alibegovic and Zeisloft move the score and Leonis continues to maintain its lead (59-65 in the 28th minute). At the end of the half the gap remained unchanged, with Roma leading 61-69 at the third buzzer. At the start of the final period Bertram reduces the distance with two triples from Spizzichini and Viglianisi (70-74 in the 33rd minute) which force coach Corbani to stop the game. The partial in favor of the Bianconeri continues even after the time-out: triples from Viglianisi and Blizzard give them the advantage (78-74), inflame the PalaOltrepò and cause another suspension for coach Corbani. The great defensive pressure put on the pitch by coach Ramondino's team creates great difficulties for the away attack: in attack, Bertram finds collective initiatives against the opponents' zonal defense and expands the margin up to +9 (85-76) on the 38th '. The 5-0 of Amici and Infante closes the gap (85-81 with 17 seconds to go until the siren), on the systematic foul Blizzard makes 1/2 on the line but on the mistake of the guard Ndoja captures an important offensive rebound his 2/2 counts the +7 (88-81) with which the match ended.
