The last act that puts promotion to the top flight up for grabs. Game 1 of the men’s Serie A2 basketball playoff final took place at the PalaShark: on the parquet of the Sicilians Trapani and Bologna put on a show with baskets and good plays, but in the end it was the hosts who came out on top, now leading the series.
Game managed best by the Granata, who immediately took the lead from the end of the first quarter (18-12). The lead is maintained in the second set as well and it goes into halftime at 42-31. Upon returning, Bologna tries to shake up the match (62-54 after the third quarter), but Trapani holds up and defends well against the opponents’ offensive actions, thus winning the match with the final score of 85-73. The star of the match is definitely JD Notae: 39 points, with 3 rebounds and 3 assists and an MVP game.
Coach Andrew Diana from Trapani Shark commented as follows at the end of the race: “Before starting I want to wish Pietro Aradori good luck for a speedy recovery. We started off strong, the way I like it, and we left a precise mark in terms of physicality and toughness. There are many things to fix because Fortitudo is a strong team that always manages to punish any distractions.”
“We had many ups and downs but, in the end, we were always in control of the race and the victory was deserved. In Game 2 we start again 0-0 and we must have this clear. Notae today entered “the zone”, into that state of competitive trance that makes everything easier for you. He was the protagonist but the series is long and everyone will find their moment. Bologna will bring countermeasures and we will have to be ready”, concluded the coach.
