Bertram does not complete the comeback and falls in Rieti
NPC Rieti-Bertram Derthona 71-67
(27-15, 45-37, 58-51)
Scoreboards:
Rieti: Stefanelli ne, Fumagalli 3, Passera 14, Brown 17, Cannon 26, Vildera 4, Zucca, Pastore 4, Nikolic 3, Filoni, Mammoli ne. Coach Rossi
Derthona: Valle ne, Buffo 2, Tavernelli ne, Formenti 8, Seck ne, Gaines 14, De Laurentiis 4, Mascolo 6, Čepić ne, Gražulis 17, Martini 8, Pullazi 8. Coach Ramondino
Defeat for Bertram Derthona (still without Tavernelli and Čepić) on the Rieti pitch, at the end of a match conducted almost entirely by the home team. The Bianconeri, after a complex start, overcame their opponents until they took the lead with a triple from Formenti with 47 seconds left. In the following actions, the coolness of Brown and Cannon gave the home team success. Marked start to the match by Brown and Cannon, who sealed the initial 7-0: after Bertram's reaction, the favorable moment continued for the hosts who - led by an inspired Cannon and Pastore - reached their maximum advantage at 19-8 of the 7'. The great defensive intensity put on the pitch by the home team creates difficulties for the Juventus attack, which has to momentarily give up Gaines after a personal technical was given against him (second personal foul). The first ten minutes end at 27-15. At the start of the second half the team coached by Ramondino raises their energy level and comes back under the double-digit deficit (27-18 at 11'): coach Rossi stops the game. Coming out of the time-out comes the reaction of Zeus who, with baskets from Cannon and Nikolic, expands their margin again (34-22 at 14'). In the following minutes the two teams responded to every opponent's basket and at the break Rieti led 45-37. In the first minutes of the third period, Bertram was forced to give up Gaines, following her fourth personal foul, but remained in contact thanks to some three-pointers (56-48 in the 27th minute). In the next phase of the match both teams showed great competitive spirit and the score remained balanced: in the 30th minute the score was 58-51. The last partial continues to flow on the tracks of balance, before Derthona returns to just one possession away with Gaines' triple (62-59 in the 36th minute); the same American player impacts the match at 64 a minute later. Brown and Cannon gave the home team the lead again (66-64 in the 38th minute), before a three-point basket by Formenti sealed the visitors' first lead of the match (66-67). The counter-overtake is signed by a glacial Brown, who with four consecutive points puts full possession back between the two teams with 16 seconds to go (70-67). Gaines' shot, for the equalizer, doesn't go in and Cannon gives Zeus the success: the final is 71-67.
