The equalizer point narrowly escapes Bertram Derthona, who fights tooth and nail against the battleship Udine, remains in balance for forty minutes, and gives in only a handful of seconds from the end. Spanghero's potential equalizer shot chipped the iron 6" from the end, condemning Bertram far beyond its own demerits. Once again, it is the details that make the difference at PalaCarnera, for a series that the Lions have shown they can extend.
PalaOltrepo' will push the Lions towards the potential feat, to reopen a series that appears much more balanced than the current score suggests.
After a first half played point by point, the Lions achieved a 2-15 lead in the third quarter, the result of great defensive aggression and defensive concentration. Udine reacts and shortens to 52-52 in the 30th minute, but Bertram Derthona resists until the final moments of the game, without being discouraged by the volley of triples - two from Nobile and one from ten meters from Bushati - which between the 35th and 38th ′ had brought Udine to +7. The Lions come back behind, lose first Johnson and then Alibegovic due to fouls, and in the final they have the ball in their hands for a potential equalizer with 6" to go, but Spanghero's possession is not exploited. Udine thus takes a 2-0 lead by winning 80-76 in a series that is far from over. For the Friulians it is time to face the Lions in their own den. The big match will be staged on Saturday 5 May, at 20.30 pm, at the PalaOltrepo' in Voghera
Lorenzo Pansa"I'm disappointed because we played a quality match against a team that is superior to us in many ways. The striking data is the 20 offensive rebounds conceded: when you play with big men like that and wingers of that size, rebounding is a problem, but we have to be stronger mentally and provide extra coverage with the wingers because the physical difference is abysmal. The second thing to improve is clarity in decisive moments. Then today the difference is that Nobile makes 2/2 and we didn't score those shots. Percentages come and go, but clarity and rebounding effort need to be improved because they are the only things we lack to make this series long. Today we missed an opportunity because the performance was of a very good level against a decidedly strong team. Now it's clear that it takes an extra mental effort that has to become physical because even just by controlling those rebounds we could extend it. Congratulations to Udine for having had the ability to find a different protagonist and for having been able to impose their physicality."
