by Nicolò Govoni
Nothing to do for Ferrara, who in Gardone Val Trompia are unable to secure a pass for the playoff semi-finals. The hosts of the former Davico dominate Game 2 and even reach an 18-point lead, forcing the decisive match to be played on Wednesday evening at the Bondi Arena: for the biancazzurri, without Sankarè and largely in difficulty, the alarm clock rings too late , and the heartfelt comeback led by the Ballabio-Marchini couple is not enough.
The initial matches saw great balance between the two contenders: Graziano was the most on the ball for the Brescians and responded to the Biancazzurri’s blows to make it 8-all in the half. When Davico enters the game, the problems begin for the Este defense: Benedetto’s boys argue with the irons, and with a couple of trivial turnovers they allow Gardonese to take the lead at 23 to 13 at the first siren. The problems in attack for Ferrara are very serious: Romondia tries, but the Brescians remain in very firm control of the match. If the biancazzurri finally found the way to the basket with Ballabio and Cecchetti, on the other side Motta and Dalcò countered blow for blow, piercing a less than attentive guest defense, which was also very foul. It’s the middle of the night for Ferrara, who ends a very bad first half of the match chasing 45 to 29.
Ferrara starts again with a different attitude: the two triples from Marchini and Drigo bring the white and blues back below, and at 51 to 39 coach Perruchetti is forced to call a minute. The ball of the game returns to the wise hands of Davico, bringing the inertia of the match back to the Brescia side at 58 to 41. The Este team doesn’t raise the white flag, Porfilio leads the counter-partial and Yarbanga in tap-in nails the -11: only the basket from Markus at the end makes it 62-49. But Ferrara believes in it: Marchini scores repeatedly, the defense now travels at the right speed and the biancazzurri find themselves six points behind, before being pushed back by Airaghi and Davico. Ferrara’s attack is entirely in the hands of Ballabio, 76 to 74: however, the clock is tyrannical, finishing 78 to 74 and we go to Game 3 on Wednesday at the Bondi Arena.
MI.GA.L. Pallacanestro Gardonese – Ferrara Basket 2018 (23-13; 45-29; 62-49)
MI.GA.L. Gardone Basketball: Morigi ne, Markus 10, Davico 19, Poli, Dalcò 10, Grasso ne, Motta 14, Olivieri ne, Basso 4, Graziano 11, Airaghi 10. Coach Perucchetti.
Ferrara Basketball 2018: Bellini ne, Romondia 3, Cattani 2, Drigo 10, Kuvekalovic, Porfilio 4, Yarbanga 4, Guerra 2, Cecchetti 10, Ballabio 23, Marchini 16. Coach Benedetto.
