A victory for Leoni: Rieti falls to PalaOltrepò
Bertram Derthona-Zeus Energy Group Rieti
(24-13, 48-27, 69-56)
Scoreboards:
Derthona: Valle ne, Buffo, Tavernelli 7, Seck, Festinese ne, Gaines 20, De Laurentiis 12, Mascolo 13, Čepić 6, Gražulis 13, Martini 11, Casella 2. All. Ramondino
Rieti: Stefanelli 15, Fumagalli 2, Passera 2, Cannon 31, Vildera 6, Zucca 10, Pastore 2, Nikolic ne, Filoni 7, Mammoli ne. Coach Rossi
Bertam Derthona returns to success, against Rieti, at the end of a match conducted right from the start of the game - even with a margin of more than twenty points - and managed in the final, containing the return of the Lazio team. The first minutes of the match were favorable to Bertram, who found great offensive fluidity and good defensive intensity as a team, reaching a double-digit lead at 21-9 in the 9th minute. In the final stages of the first half of the game – after the time-out requested by coach Rossi – Rieti narrows its gap: in the 10th minute the Bianconeri lead 24-13. In the second period the match continues to be led, in terms of pace and score, by Derthona led by De Laurentiis as protagonist under both scoreboards: it is after a basket from number 13 (which makes it 35-22 in the 16th minute) that the guests operations stop again. Despite the time-out requested by coach Rossi, Bertram further expanded its margin to 42-22 (the result of a 12-0 run); the first half then closed at 48-27 with triples from Gražulis and Gaines. Upon returning from the locker rooms, the home team contained the attempt to return by Zeus Energy Group (who lost Passera in the quarter due to a technical - imposed in the second period - and unsportsmanlike behavior) led by Cannon's baskets: in the 25th minute the score was 62- 45. In the following minutes the Lazio team closed the gap with Fumagalli's goals, which brought Rieti back to -13 in the 30th minute (69-56). The final half opens with Rieti returning to a double-digit deficit (71-62), before Mascolo and Gaines allow the Bianconeri to extend the score to 80-68 in the 38th minute. Rieti's last comeback attempt was made by Zucca (author of 7 consecutive points), before Gaines and De Laurentiis – both from the line – gave Bertram the success 84-75.
