Fortitudo tried in every way but also gave up in game 2 in Trapani which now sees promotion. The Sicilians are one victory away from the finish line and they have even already set the date for the celebrationsbut they will still have to deal with an indomitable Effe who controlled the match for half an hour in Sicily and only gave up in the last minute.
Freeman drives Trapani crazy
Without its best scorer Aradori due to injury and with Freeman miraculously back on his feet after the fever, coach Caja’s white and blue team demonstrated that they were not in the final by chance but of wanting to do everything possible to ruin the plans of the highly favored opponents. Playing in Bologna now could give that extra push to believe in the feat. In the first quarter you can immediately see Fortitudo with the eyes of a lion, ready to close everything down in defense and always look for the best possible shot in attack. Freeman drives Trapani crazy, Ogden and Bolpin help him and so at the first break we arrive with an excellent 18-28, also the result of a super work on rebounding. However, when the reserves enter, something goes wrong and the Sicilians quickly climb back up to -4. A couple of bombs give back a decent safety margin to the Effe which however before the long interval he was overwhelmed by the opponent’s comeback and calls everything into question: the score at half time is 38-41.
The overtaking of Trapani and the victory at the end
Upon returning to the field, it was Ogden who first made Fortitudo dream and then despair with five points followed by foul problems in a match offensively blocked on both fronts. A bomb from Taflaj tries to restore strength to the blue and white reserves who however are unable to avoid suffering the first overtaking of the evening (52-51 in the 28th minute). At the last break there was total balance at 52. Freeman and Fantinelli held the helm firmly in their hands at the start of the fourth quarter, bringing the Bolognese team back to +6. The biancoblù’s aim, however, vanishes and so Trapani comes back into contact then overtakes at 67-65 but Fortitudo impacts at 69 with 41″ to play. The referees and bad luck, however, direct the last seconds towards the home team who win 72-70.
On Friday 7 June at 9pm the challenge will move to PalaDozza with Fortitudo forced to win so as not to allow the Sicilians to celebrate their promotion. It will take a show of enormous heart and concentration but the strength of a unique field factor in Italy could be decisive to reopen the series.
Trapani Shark-Fortitudo Flats Service Bologna 72-70
Partial: 18-28; 38-41; 52-52
TRAPANI: Notae 19, Horton 6, Alibegovic 17, Imbrò 3, Mian, Pugliatti ne, Mollura 5, Mobio 4, Gentile 5, Marini 13, Pullazi. All: Diana
FORTITUDE: Sergio 2, Conti 4, Bolpin 10, Panni 3, Kuznetsov ne, Fantinelli 7, Giuri, Freeman 19, Ogden 16, Morgillo 4, Taflaj 5. All: Caja
Referees: Bartoli, Cassina, Giovannetti
Field goals: Tr 22/51 (8/29 from three), Bo 26/71 (6/26 from three)
Free throws: Tr 20/25, Bo 12/16
Rebounds: Tr 37, Bo 39
Assists: Tr 21, Bo 18
