BRAMANTE
69
VIRTUS ROME
67
BRAMANTE: Delfino 10, Crescenzi 5, Ricci 9, Sgarzini, Druda ne, Ferri 16, Nicolini E. ne, Centis 2, Sablich ne, Stefani 18, Panzieri 5, Giampaoli 4. Coach Nicolini
VIRTUS ROMA: Petrucci 6, Whelan 12, Frisari ne, Casale 10, Valentini 7, Zoffoli 3, Pellegrinotti ne, Columbano ne, Giorgi 7, Rocchi 14, Giacomi 6, Fokou 2. Coach Tonolli
Partials: 14-17, 36-38, 52-50.
Bramante played a heroic match, winning in the match photo finish of the promotion semi-final and taking Roma to victory. Nervous start from Pesaro. Virtus attacks (0-4) with Rocchi who scores the triple and suffers the foul. The first points go to Stefani from the foul line (2-4). Rocchi again tries to escape the guests (2-9). Ferri catches his opponents with two long-range baskets (8-9, 6′). Delfino also breaks the deadlock in the 7th minute (10-12). But it’s Stefani who impacts (12-12) in the 8th minute. The balance continues with Ricci close at 14-14 (9′). The first quarter ends with the Capitoline players ahead (14-17). In the second period of play, Giorgi immediately scores (14-19). It’s Delfino from the line of charity who brings him back on track (16-19, at 11′). Petrucci’s triple, Giacomi’s 2/2 which he then also converts in transition brings the Romans to 19-28 (16′). The blue and white suffered more physicality from the guests. At 15′, six points from Ricci and Crescenzi’s counterattack give the Pesaro team some breathing room (28-30 at 17′). But it’s always Rocchi who ruins the party (28-33 with a triple).
It comes back to bite Delfino and then Ricci who steals balls to score (32-33 in the 19th minute). Stefani leads Bramante to -2 at halftime (36-38). In the second half, Delfino equalized (40-40, in the 23rd minute). Virtus defends across the board. But Ferri’s bomb arrives (43-44) and with Stefani at hand Pesaro takes the lead for the first time in the match (45-44 in the 27th minute). Pesaro pushes again first with Panzieri (47-46) with Crescenzi (49-46, in the 29th minute). Again Panzieri with a triple 44′ from the end of the third quarter scores the plus 4. The third period ends with a plus 2 for the home team (52-50). In the final half, the blue and white stopped and their opponents went up 11 in the 36th minute (52-63).
When it now seems that Pesaro has raised the white flag, here comes the sensational comeback with Centis, a good basket and an additional shot (54-63), then it is Stefani’s turn (58-63) and above all Captain Ferri who reopens the situation with two triples. match (63-63 at 39′). Coach Nicolini’s defense is starting to bear fruit. Stefani extends (65-63 with 50” left). Virtus clings to the systematic foul but Giampaoli is an iceberg (67-63 with 8” left). It’s not over Rocchi scores the bomb and with 4” the guests are within 1 (67-66). Casale fouls Giampaoli, the Pesaro player doesn’t fail (69-66 with 3” left). Ball to the Romans with 1 second left. Bramante fouls and Casale scores just one free throw (69-67). Garatre in Rome on Monday at 8.30pm. The final is up for grabs.
Beatrice Terenzi
