Trapani wins. Long live Trapani! Does Trapani win with merit? Several reservations. Above all, Alibegovic wins at the end of a match marked by another, like match 2, a somewhat questionable direction in important decisions. The pompous President Antonini wins, showing up at the Paladozza and, apart from some initial teasing, he can calmly follow the performance of his team. Antonini wins by allowing himself to insult an opposing player with gestures like any fan. Wins all of that. Unfortunately, excess leads to exhaustion and, as we know, excess is bad in any environment. What President Antonini has done in this series is unacceptable to say the least (most recently the statements released to his press organs which read as a reality of his own – still at midnight the team was celebrating on the pitch with the fans -) and it is It is objectively symptomatic that all this goes unnoticed. It is clear that to give visibility to basketball today there is a need for individuals of this caliber, a tangible sign, perhaps, that we are about to hit rock bottom.
Having said this (because it is necessary to stigmatize situations that have little to do with the basketball played but which unfortunately throw mud on the passion that accompanies this sport), in the span of a very balanced series which lost the Italian MPV of the Championship after two minutes , Trapani takes it home because it has invested in players who objectively have little to do with the A2 championship. In first of all Amar Alibegovic who in this game 4, apart from an empty pass in the third period, produced a masterful performance that effectively directed the match. And because he has a player of Imbrò’s caliber who you may or may not like but in the end he resolved the match with a solution worthy of the most classic of “ignorant shots” after the team had created nothing for 23 seconds. Individualities that have shifted the balance of the series (like Notae in game 1), a final that would have deserved to always see Pietro Aradori and Stefano Gentile on the parquet (another one who is of little importance in A2).
After the match obviously the President (at least until midnight) does not show up (as mentioned he releases statements that are distant from the reality of the facts) and neither does Diana; Instead, those of coach Caja are parting words: In the match we only congratulate Trapani who had a little more than us. We fought and went beyond the obstacle as long as we had it. They deserve the result for the investments made and Alibegovic is probably the tip of the iceberg. That being said, today was the last day of school. Tonight I have only positive feelings and I am clear that I have no stone to remove towards the club and I highlight and specify that it was an honor to coach Fortitudo. Today the people of Fortitudo made me move, their affection, their participation and they will always remain in my heart. I believed in going to A1, because I saw the growth, even that of the guys on the bench, see Conti today, Panni on Friday. I couldn’t have foreseen the injuries to Aradori and Ogden. The players were exceptional, fantastic, they never made a bad face. The Fortitudo people are something incredible that I will always carry with me.
THE NEWS
We have already outlined the leitmotif of the match, the score that shaped this match 4. Fortitudo tries, as in match 3, to put distance between itself and its opponent, seeking a strong approach to the match, and it succeeds. He goes on the wings of Conti and a good Freeman up to 16-8 and has several chances to widen the gap beyond double figures (also because Trapani seems a bit like a photocopy of game 1), but the aim is lopsided, Bolpin doesn’t he hits one, Ogden doesn’t have the sensitivity in his shot and at the end of the quarter Alibegovic wakes up (who had a terrible approach in game 3) and with a 0-5 he allows his team to stay in contact.
In the second period the F gets stuck in attack, the percentages drop and Trapani first makes an impact (after the ephemeral +7 internally) and overtakes at the end of the half. We go to the break with a 2-point lead from outside and Alibegovi already at 16 (with a rating of 20).
In the third period they score slowly: it’s certainly not a great match to watch, but there’s a lot at stake. Trapani always maintains a 1-2 possession advantage, but the effe impacts with Super Conti at 40. Basket strangely not validated on a percussion by the Fante (ball that first touches the table and then is swept), Paladozza boils, but Trapani “picks up and takes home”. The usual figure of free throws which strangely rewards the guests more and more often (21 against 16, when the overall statistics of the championship say the opposite) makes the match become nervous. In all this Fortitudo remains clinging to Conti and Freeman and closes the quarter at -4 (40-44). The fourth period sees Trapani extend their lead to 3 possessions at the start and the inertia seems to definitively turn towards the guests: but Fortitudo has a thousand lives and a big heart. He finds two free throws from Ogden (1/11 turnover from the field for the colored) and Conti again for -1. At 52-55 (after Fortitudo manages to get oxygen from another slap from Alibegovic), once again the referee Foti does not see a valid support at the basket (the block comes after the support on the glass), Caja takes the coach immediately and Trapani regains the lead 52-57. In the last round of the hand, another questionable contact on which the usual Foti graces the guests (Alibegovic’s contact seems to be a breakthrough); on the following action Imbrò scores a triple (from 10 metres) which extinguishes all hopes. In short, yes, credit goes to Trapani, who wins, but credit goes to Fortitudo who despite losing have the regret of some passages (game 2 and game 4 above all) where the episodes did not turn in the right direction.
Report cards
Bologna: Given that the team deserves an 8 for the season, the evaluations refer exclusively to game 4. Sergio 6: He makes a triple, but has to follow Alibegovic and I’ve said it all. Accounts 8: Definitely his best performance of the year. Bolpin 5: He was still “reveling” after Friday’s performance. Clothes 5: As for Bolpin. Fantinelli 6: It starts very well, then in the long run even the F light goes out. You swear 5: only because today we can’t go below 5. Freeman 7: We hit the ball, too bad about a few too many free throws (3/6). Ogden 5: Giuri’s argument with the mitigating hand applies. But if we look at the reason for that hand, the vote should be halved. Morgillo 6: He’s on the pitch for 4 minutes. Maybe he deserved a few more minutes. Taflaj 6: He tries, but you can see that he lacks match rhythm. Caja 6: He could try to stay, these people deserved it.
Trapani: Notae 5.5: After race 1 only similar races. Maybe race 1 was his “grape festival”. Horton 5.5: Takes home 10 rebounds but takes few initiatives and can be reviewed in free throws (2/6). Alibegovic 8: Tonight he can! Imbro 7: He puts a sidereal triple in a match where he may not seem to shine, but it is always useful. Mian 5: Invisible. Mollura 5: Like Mian. Mobio 5: Mild impact, just minutes of “change”. Marini 6,5: Half a point for two crucial free throws in the final. A few smudges and a sensational double, unseen, which could have been bloody. Rodriguez 6: Of course, he’s not Gentile, he can be on the pitch. Pullazi 5: We remember him for a triple with a NazzBuzz celebration… then nothing. Diana 7: He brings Trapani to Serie A (and for this reason he deserves 8), but he has a simple life with Alibegovic and company (score 6). The grade is the average, knowing that it would be a failure not to succeed
Referees: Dionisi and Pellicani 6. Consistent, Foti 3: Surgical on one side, dormant on the other.
FORTITUDO BOLOGNA – TRAPANI SHARK 58-64 (16-13) (28-30) (40-44)
Strength: Braccio ne, Sergio 3 (1/2 from 3), Conti 20 (5/7, 2/4), Bolpin 3 (0/5, 1/2), Panni (0/1, 0/1), Kuznetsov ne, Fantinelli 7 (3/6, 0/1), Giuri (0/1 from 3), Freeman 15 (6/15, 0/1), Ogden 4 (1/5, 0/6), Morgillo 2 (1/1), Taflaj 4 (1/2 from 3). All. Caja
Trapani: Notae 8 (1/1, 2/8), Horton 6 (2/5), Alibegovic 25 (6/12, 4/7), Imbrò 9 (2/4, 1/4), Mian (0/ 2), Pugliatti ne, Mollura (0/2 from 3), Mobio 2 (0/1), Marini 8 (0/2, 1/2), Rodriguez 3 (1/2, 0/1), Pullazi 3 ( 1/2 from 3). All. Diana
2-point shots: Bo 16/40, Tp 12/27. 3-pointers: Bo 5/20, Tp 9/28. Free: Bo 11/16, Tp. 13/21. Rebounds: Bo 38 (28+10, Freeman 11), Tp 36 (26+10, Horton 10). Assist: Bo 13 (Fantinelli 6), Tp 11 (Notae 4).
Referees: Dionisi, Pellicani, Foti.
Attendance: 5490 (sold out)
