Bertram fights, but surrenders in Agrigento
M Renewables Agrigento-Bertram Derthona 74-63
(16-18, 33-35, 55-51)
Scoreboards:
Agrigento: Moricca ne, Rotondo, Cuffaro, De Nicolao 6, Fontana, Chiarastella 4, Ambrosin 9, James 22, Morreale ne, Moretti 2, Pepe 19, Easley 12. Coach Cagnardi
Derthona: Valle ne, Buffo 4, Seck ne, Festinese ne, Gaines 8, De Laurentiis 11, Mascolo 16, Čepić, Gražulis 4, Martini 13, Casella, Pullazi 7. Coach Ramondino
Defeat for Bertram Derthona who, on the Agrigento pitch, led the match for the entire duration of the first half, before suffering a comeback from the guests, who first made an impact and then went on to lead the match, winning 74-63 at the siren . The match started for the visiting team, who thanks to Gaines' triple - which triggered the Teddy Bear Toss - and Mascolo's three-point play led 0-6 after three minutes of play. The home team's defensive growth complicates Bertram's offensive plans and allows them to close the gap (8-10 at 7'); in the following moments the match flows in balance and in the 10th minute the guests lead 16-18. Agrigento found their first lead in the 13th minute, thanks to Pepe's triple: James' subsequent dunk on the counterattack put full possession between the two teams and forced coach Ramondino to stop operations. The favorable moment for the Sicilians also continues in the following actions, when with a series of steals, they extend the score to 29-22 in the 15th minute. The Juventus reaction is led by Mascolo and De Laurentiis' offensive rebounds, which guarantee extra possessions for Ramondino's team, which carries out the counter-overtaking with two free throws from Pullazi (29-31 in the 18th minute). In the final moments of the first half the two teams find good offensive solutions and at the break the Lions lead the match 33-35. Upon returning from the locker room, Bertram momentarily loses Gaines (author of the third and fourth personal foul in succession) and Agrigento returns to lead (43-39 at 24') thanks to the plays of James and Easley: coach Ramondino interrupts the match. M Rinnovabili further increased their scoring by taking advantage of the steals and some attacking rebounds, finding the three possessions with Pepe's basket (50-42). In the final stages of the set, De Laurentiis brought the Bianconeri back into contact; James' basket sets the score at 55-51 in the 30th minute. In the last quarter the home team maintained control of the pace of the match, resisting the visitors' comeback attempts and reaching a double-digit lead following Pepe's triple at the 24" mark (67-57 at 37') . In the following actions, Derthona is unable to close its gap and surrenders to M Rinnovabili, who triumphs 74-63.
