For Bertram it's a Tuesday... Patras: overwhelming first ever victory in the Champions League Top 16
Bertram Derthona Tortona – Promitheas Patras Vikos Cola 97-77
(30-26, 51-39, 80-55)
Tortona : Zerini 4, Vital 20, Kuhse 15, Gorham 12, Candi 2, Denegri 5, Baldasso 13, Kamagate 8, Biligha 6, Severini 3, Josovic, Weems 9. Coach De Raffaele.
Patras : Walker 16, Lountzis 3, Bazinas 5, Ke. Williams 2, Shittu 10, Reese 10, Chrysikopoulos ne, Prekas ne, Varnado 9, Iwundu 6, Karagiannidis 8, KJ Williams 8. Coach Papatheodorou.
Referees : Silins (LTV), Castillo Larroca (ESP), Baki (TUR).
Bertram Derthona Tortona's first success in the Top 16 of the Basketball Champions League is a no-brainer. The black and white team celebrates Carnival Day by easily defeating the Greeks of Promitheas Patrasso Vikos Cola 97-77 in the third day of Group I, which marked the home debut of the black and whites in the second phase group after the inaugural double away game in Wurzburg and at home to AEK Athens. The final +20 represents the widest margin obtained this season by Derthona, which makes this sort of do or die between the two teams still fasting on the eve of the round its own. In the wake of the limelight gained on the field of the league leaders Trento three days earlier in Serie A, deadly from outside shooting with the initial triples of Baldasso (3/7 from three) inspiring the subsequent ones of Vital (4/8) and Kuhse (3/6) and determined in every aspect of the field with the entire roster protagonist, Bertram showed the right energy with an unstoppable progression, starting from the 30 points scored in the first quarter, continued with the double-digit advantage of the interval (51-39) and exploded with a third period, won 29-16, which closed the contest even before the last mini-break. The fourth period also served to record the 30-point difference with the 88-58 signed by a penetration of Candi, before the partial seam of the Greeks in the final. The 24 assists overall (Kuhse and Gorham 5 each) and 122 rating are further evidence of the fluidity and superiority shown by Bertram.
In the standings Tortona closes to 2 points the distance from the second and last place that is worth the qualification to the quarterfinals, occupied by Wurzburg after today's home defeat in the clash at the top with AEK Athens (71-77), now alone in first place with full points. Next Wednesday, March 12, there will be the rematch in Patras, a match scheduled for 18:30 Italian time for the first return leg.
STATEMENTS Leonardo Candi and coach Walter De Raffaele spoke in the post-match press conference . “ We approached the game with determination, we did a really good job ,” said the Tortona winger . “ We closed the gap as we wanted to, and at the start of the third quarter we re-attacked well, preventing them from coming back behind. We need to continue on this path, there will be another important game against Varese on Sunday, so we need to stay focused . ” “We played a solid game on both ends of the court, the most important aspect is that we got another team victory, playing as a single entity: this is our strength, beyond the wins and losses ,” De Raffaele analyzed . “I have a strong group at my disposal, they work hard, we need to keep pushing like this. I'm happy for the players and the fans . ”
