Bertram came close to making a great comeback, but Napoli achieved success
GeVi Napoli-Bertram Derthona 69-64
(19-18, 34-29, 56-38)
Scoreboards:
Napoli: Guarino, Roderick 20, Klačar, Chessa 5, Dincic, Sandri 4, Milosevic ne, Monaldi 13, Spizzichini 11, Sherrod 16, Milani. All. Sacripanti
Derthona: Valle ne, Buffo, Formenti 9, Seck ne, Festinese ne, Gaines 15, De Laurentiis 4, Mascolo 6, Čepić ne, Gražulis 16, Martini 7, Pullazi 7. Coach Ramondino
Defeat for Bertram Derthona, still without Tavernelli, who on the GeVi Napoli pitch found themselves forced to chase for large stretches of the match, then finding the overtaking three minutes from the end. In the subsequent actions, however, the plays of Roderick and Spizzichini allow the home team to win 69-64. The start of the match was characterized by the great balance on the pitch between the two teams, who relied on the solutions of the most talented players: it was then Napoli who produced the first break of the match (13-9 in the 6th minute). In the following minutes, Bertram reacted, finding the lead at 16-18 following Martini's lay-up: the first half ended with three free throws from Roderick, which allowed GeVi to close ahead 19-18. In the second quarter the team coached by Sacripanti continues to maintain a slight margin of advantage, but Bertram is able to stay in contact: at 30-26 in the 17th minute, however, the Bianconeri are forced to temporarily give up Gaines (author of three personal fouls ). Roderick's subsequent penetrating basket puts two full possessions between the teams and forces coach Ramondino to stop the game. Coming out of the time-out, the Bianconeri closed their gap to 34-29 at the break. Upon returning from the locker room, GeVi took advantage of some Derthona turnovers to score some baskets on the counterattack and extend the lead to 43-31 in the 24th minute. The favorable moment for the home team also continues in the subsequent actions and allows Roderick and his teammates to update the maximum advantage to 15 points (48-33), forcing coach Ramondino to interrupt operations. In the following minutes, control of the pace and score of the match remains in the hands of the team coached by Sacripanti, who lead 30-56 in the 38th minute. At the start of the final period Bertram produced a 0-5 partial which shortened the gap and in the following actions the Lions increased the intensity of their defense by returning to two possessions behind (58-52 at 35'): coach Sacripanti, in following Gražulis' triple, he was forced to stop the match. Derthona crowned a long chase by overtaking with a lay-up by Pullazi (58-59 in the 37th minute), after beating the opponents' prolonged pressing. We get to the end in which the two teams respond blow for blow to the opposing baskets: Sherrod gives the advantage back to GeVi with a dunk 1 minute from the end. Formenti's subsequent shots do not find the target and the same Juventus guard commits an unsportsmanlike foul on Roderick, who makes it 1/2 on the line, giving him full margin possession. Spizzichini was then glacial at free throws, further increasing GeVi's advantage (67-62 with 12 seconds to go): at the buzzer the team coached by Sacripanti prevailed 69-64.
