Bertram fights, but falls at the end in Turin
Reale Mutua Torino-Bertram Derthona 76-70
(13-23, 37-33, 55-50)
Scoreboards:
Turin: Alibegovic 15, Marks 9, Campani 3, Ianuale ne, Pinkins 2, Toscano 17, Castellino ne, Jakimovski ne, Reggiani ne, Traini, Diop 13, Bushati 17. All. Cavina
Derthona: Valle ne, Buffo ne, Tavernelli 5, Seck, Festinese ne, Gaines 20, De Laurentiis ne, Mascolo 8, Čepić 10, Gražulis 18, Martini 6, Casella 3. Coach Ramondino
Defeat for Bertram Yachts Derthona, without Pullazi and De Laurentiis, who on the Turin pitch imposed their own pace on the match for a good part of the first half, before suffering the initiatives of Toscano and Bushati which allowed Reale Mutua to prevail at the siren the final. The match started in favor of Bertram Derthona, who found Čepić and Gražulis the protagonists of the first minutes of the game: the Latvian player's dunk - which earned him the maximum lead (7-15 in the 6th minute) - forced coach Cavina to stop the proceedings. In the following moments the Lions repelled their opponents' comeback attempts and ended the first half ahead 13-23. Reale Mutua reduced the gap to five points thanks to a 7-0 score between Diop-Campani-Marks (20-25 at 13') interrupted by Gaines' lay-up. The Turin team first scored at 27, in the 15th minute, with two free throws from Alibegovic and then regained the advantage, at 32-29, with a three-point basket from Toscano. The first half is closed by Pinkins' free throws, which set the score at 37-33. Upon returning from the locker room, the achievements of Bushati and Gaines keep the distance between the two teams unchanged, in a match that runs on the edge of great balance. Toscano's counterattack basket - from a recovered ball - marks the end of the third period, which sees Torino ahead 55-50. Outside baskets by Toscano and Bushati pushed Reale Mutua up 8 (61-53) in the 32nd minute; in the following minutes the same two players allowed the home team to keep their margin unchanged. Despite the technical flopping given to Bushati, the team coached by Cavina widened the gap thanks to the great clarity and precision in the three-point shot before Derthona, with Gaines and Gražulis, returned to 5 points (71-66) at 90 seconds from the end. Another triple from Bushati (author of three goals in the final period) places three possessions between the two teams and allows Reale Mutua to win 76-70.
