A new chapter in BCC's history: they beat Geas in Game 2 and reached the semifinals.
Geas Sesto San Giovanni-Autosped BCC Derthona 70-78
(16-24, 37-42, 58-65)
Scoreboards:
Geas: Moore 30, Conti 7, Kacerik 3, Scott 10, Trucco, Ostoni ne, Osazuwa 4, Cancelli ne, Appettiti ne, Roumy 10, Attura ne, Cornelie 6. All. Zanotti
BCC Derthona: Dotto 4, Kunaiyi 16, Fontaine 10, Conte 12, Toffolo 9, Leonardi 4, Fondren 14, Arado 2, Suarez, Melchiori ne, Penna 7. Coach Cutugno
Autosped BCC Derthona wrote another historic chapter in its forty-year history by defeating Geas Sesto San Giovanni in Game 2, thus reaching the semifinals of the Scudetto in the top division for the first time. This victory was achieved thanks to a great team performance, featuring personality, talent, and physicality, against a top-tier opponent who played evenly both games. With Melchiori and Attura absent, as in Game 1, the match saw set-pieces and reverse set-pieces, with BCC able to extend their lead and withstand all of their opponents' attempts to come back, earning a spot in the next round, where they will face the reigning Italian champions Famila Wuber Schio.
BCC Derthona got off to a strong start, playing with fluidity on offense and physicality on defense, escaping to a 2-11 lead. After the opposition responded, Cutugno's team mounted another burst of momentum—with Fondren and Conte leading the way—to make it 16-24 in the 10th minute. The second quarter was a tense affair, with Autosped maintaining the lead by between one and three possessions: at halftime, the visitors led 37-42.
After returning from the locker rooms, Cutugno's team posted a 0-11 run that widened the gap to 16 points (37-53), but then Geas closed the gap play after play, relying on Moore's talent: at the third buzzer, BCC led 58-65. In the final quarter, the tension mounted on the court, the percentages dropped, but Autosped continued to lead the game: two baskets from Conte restored a double-digit lead (62-72) with less than four minutes remaining. The Lombardy team closed the gap to five points (70-75) entering the final 90 seconds, but then Fondren's offensive plays and a strong defensive presence sealed Autosped's 70-78 victory and their advancement to the Scudetto semifinal.
The words of Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah: "It was a great team win tonight, now we're preparing to face Schio, whom we've played several times this season. I think we've shown we're a strong team, with a great staff, and we'll do our best. We played with great energy tonight, but I think we can still improve in this regard.".
Coach's comment Horace Cutugno: I'm very happy with our playoff-caliber approach both tonight and in Game 1. We were always in control of the score, playing with a physical playoff style. I congratulate the entire team on the path we're taking; I think we've done the best we could this season. I want to thank our fans, who were commendable again today. Against Schio, we'll have to show even more heart, energy, and desire to try and compete with them. Today, we came back from the locker room with the will to run, and we managed to break the deadlock with our defense and quick baskets..
