A resilient Autosped leads and thrills, beats San Martino and achieves qualification for the playoffs
Autosped BCC Derthona-Alama San Martino di Lupari 69-66
(16-14, 39-30, 56-49)
Scoreboards:
BCC Derthona: Dotto 6, Marangoni, Milani, Leonardi 5, Zahui B. 20, Arado 10, Cocuzza ne, Attura 9, Melchiori 5, Penna 14, Gatti. Coach Cutugno
San Martino: Simon 17, D'Alie 13, Guarise 2, Cvijanovic 2, Cedolini n/o, Gilli 5, Del Pero 3, Piatti n/o, Robinson 14, Bickle 10. Coach Piazza
Strong emotions at the Cittadella dello Sport: Autosped BCC Derthona scores its third consecutive championship win at the end of a match led almost entirely against San Martino di Lupari, despite the absences of Fontaine and Premasunac and facing a team in great shape, fresh from the win against Campobasso. In the second quarter, the team trained by coach Cutugno extends the score, responds to the opponents' partials and maintains the lead until the final siren. Three players in double figures (Zahui B. 20, Penna 14, Arado 10) and Attura with 9 points testify to the chorus of a victory that is worth access to the Scudetto playoffs with three days still to play for the Giraffes.
First quarter in great balance at the Cittadella dello Sport: Autosped leads it for almost the entirety, taking advantage of the offensive verve of Zahui B. (11 points) and closes it with a 16-14 lead. In the second quarter, Penna takes the team on his shoulders in attack; taking advantage of an attentive defense and precision in the three-point shot (7/10), the team coached by Cutugno extends to 39-30 at half-time.
After returning from the locker rooms, the game was made up of partials: San Martino came closer with Simon's baskets from outside, but Autosped was ready, reacted and rejected the opponents' attempts at a comeback, closing ahead 56-49 at 30'. In the last quarter, the Lupe came closer again, several times reaching just one possession of detachment. Zahui B.'s basket was worth +5 (66-61) with 90 seconds to go, and despite the opponents' attempts at a comeback, Attura's free throws sealed the victory, which came with a score of 69-66.
The words of Arianna Arado: “We played a great team game. We knew we had to approach it with the right mentality to face a team that makes running and rhythm its strength. We were good at sharing the ball in attack, I'm very happy with the victory and the team”.
Coach's comment Orazio Cutugno: “It was a very tough match, as expected against San Martino. We led the match for long stretches and winning it with great effort makes us really proud. The credit goes to the girls, for the work done during the week that they replicated in the match too”.
