Last quarter fatal to Bertram, Capo d'Orlando conquers PalaOltrepò
Bertram Derthona-Benfapp Capo d'Orlando 73-77
(15-14, 38-35, 56-55)
Scoreboards:
Derthona: Tuoyo ne, Alibegovic 12, Cremaschi, Blizzard 11, Buffo ne, Ndoja 14, Ugolini ne, Garri 10, Lusvarghi 2, Viglianisi 10, Gergati 7, Spizzichini 7. Coach Ramondino
Capo d'Orlando: Bruttini 10, Laganà ne, Parks 16, Murabito, Mei 8, Triche 30, Bellan 2, Mobio 2, Neri, Donda ne, Lucarelli 9. Coach Sodini
Defeat for Bertram Derthona, who was still forced to give up a Tuoyo (who was still present on the bench) who was not in the best physical condition, and surrendered to Benfapp Capo d'Orlando at the end of an extremely balanced match resolved by Triche's play, and by the lucidity of the Sicilians on the line in the last period. A triple by Lucarelli after 30 seconds opens the match and triggers the Teddy Bear Toss, with the PalaOltrepò parquet being invaded by soft toys thrown from the stands: after the match was interrupted (to allow them to be collected) the balance on the pitch remained between the two teams, who after five minutes are perfectly tied at 5. At the end of the half it is the collective initiatives that move the score: a basket from Garri then allows Bertram to close the first quarter ahead 15-14. In the second period, Alibegovic and Triche were the main protagonists of a match that continued to flow in balance: it was after Bellan's lay-up on the counterattack, which was worth Capo's overtaking (25-27 at 15'), that coach Ramondino interrupted the game. Bellan himself then commits a third and fourth foul in quick succession (receiving a technical for protests): Alibegovic takes advantage of this and, with a sequence of free throws, gives the Bianconeri the new lead. Mei and Gergati close the first half (38-35 Bertram in the 20th minute). In the third set the home team, also driven by a couple of three-point baskets and further defensive growth, widened their margin (50-44 at 26'). In the moment of maximum difficulty, the Sicilian team relies on the Triche-Parks couple, who produce a 9-0 break which is worth the overtaking (50-53) and forces coach Ramondino to stop the game. Coming out of the time-out comes a 5-0 run for the Bianconeri: the quarter is then closed by free throws from Mobio and Gergati, which set the score at 56-55 for Bertram. At the start of the final period, the Americans from Benfapp give the guests a two-possession margin (60-65 at 32'): then it is a crazy triple from the usual Triche, after a strong defense by the Bianconeri, which leads coach Sodini's team to their maximum lead (62-71 at 35') in the match. Derthona tightens their defense and reduces their gap with a triple from Ndoja (68-73 in the 37th minute): after a couple of minutes in which neither team finds the basket, it is once again the wing who brings the owners back home, only one possession behind. Bruttini's subsequent three-point play made it 70-76: the Sicilians' clarity on the line allowed them to win 73-77.
