Next Gen Cup, perfect first stage for Allianz Derthona: Virtus Bologna also knocked out, at Christmas in Biella on pole for the Final Eight in Trento
Allianz Derthona Tortona – Virtus EmilBanca Bologna 90-82
(23-21, 44-48, 63-65)
Derthona: Tandia 27 (11/12 free throws, 18 RB, 2 blocks, 7 sub fouls, 36 vals), Baldi 17 (9/9 free throws, 4 ast, 8 sub fouls), Van Der Knapp 7, Bresciani ne , Farias 4 (4 ast), Tambwe 2, Korlatovic ne, Diodati 13, W. Bellinaso, Moro ne, Conte 11 (3/5 from three), Josovic 9 (3 rec). All. Ansaloni, ass. Tosarelli, Albasini.
Virtus Bologna: Baruffaldi, Boggian 4, Cappellotto, Corradini ne, Faldini 22, Guidotti, Soli 12, Donati 7, Accorsi 8, Baiocchi 23, Vandini, Maurizzi 6. Team Menichetti.
Referees: Almerigogna, De Rico, Rizzi.
Clear path. As happened last year, theUnder 19 ofAllianz Derthona Tortona repeats itself and closes the first stage of the group stage undefeated IBSA Next Gen Cup 2023/24 di Legabasket. Varese the bianconeri coached by Luca Ansaloni they score a trio of victories, after the successes with Pall. Varese (100-87) and Vanoli Cremona (61-55) to complete the work came the new joy against Virtus Emilbanca Bologna, beaten with a comeback from -10 during the second half. At the second and final stage in Biella from 26 to 29 December the Tortona Lions will show up from undefeated leaders of the Group A together with the sole EA7 Emporio Armani Milano, a privileged position to snatch a place among the top four which would mean a distant pass for the second year in a row for the Final Eight, scheduled at Trento from 22nd to 24th February.
On the main field ofItelyum Arena from Masnago Tandia's repeated baskets prevent Bologna from fully exploiting an effective start to the match, the Malian big man already has 10 points just after the middle of the first quarter, before Josovic and 7 points from Diodati seal the Tortona overtaking (21-17 to the 9th). Conte's triple leads to the first mini-breakaway (31-23 in the 13th), Virtus recovers quite quickly thanks to Baiocchi's offensive streak (17 in the middle of the match), but there are two consecutive three-pointers from teammate Faldini make the Bolognese return the arrow (40-41 at the 18th). The game is high-scoring, Tortona relies on Baldi's constant trips to the line (6/6 free throws in the second quarter) and offensive rebounds, Bologna doesn't miss a beat in attack and goes into half-time close to 50 with +4 of margin. The Virtussians also started the second half with a bang, taking their first double-digit lead with the Faldini-Baiocchi duo still on top (51-61 in the 24th minute), but the Tortonese recovery was almost immediate and entrusted to Tandia and Diodati, who in pairs they tie the score at 63 towards the end of the third period. MVP Tandia continues to dominate both areas, Farias' first points with two photocopy penetrations with the defense lined up are worth Tortona's return to the front in the score and with 5' from the end the match is all to be decided (75-73). It takes courage to bring it home and Conte finds it with two triples that split the game in favor of Allianz: the last one arrives at 87-82 with 21" left to the scream of joy from the Juventus players, never again recovered by Virtus.
The leading duo in the Group A standings Tortona-Milan is followed by a single 4-point formation, the Pall. Varese, at 2 Gevi Napoli, Virtus Emilbanca Bologna, Vanoli Cremona e Carpegna Prosciutto Papalini Pesaro, with Scafati Basketball Academy to close the row at 0. In the Biella stage Derthona will face the four teams not faced in Lombardy.
