Fortitudo goes straight and goes to the final. L’Aquila also wins game 3 in Rieti, making it 3-0 and will go to play the Serie A against Trapani: the conclusion of the semi-final series was in the air but the goal achieved is of great prestige for a club that started from scratch last summer who never thought he would go this far.
Race 3 a battle
Maybe not beautiful but with a gigantic heart, this time too Flats Service resisted the adversities of a difficult evening and also emerged with a clear path from the series with Rieti. Race 3 as expected is a battle but she comes out on top as usual, with mental toughness and great defense: not even this time, in the third match, on her very hot pitch, does Sebastiani manage to reach 60 points. And in the final bedlam she has various opportunities but fails them all, including the final assault of its leader Jazz Johnson, this time forced to 2/14 shooting and 4 missed by the usual defensive wall raised around him by Bolpin.
Caja: proof of great temperament
Above all, a still great Deshawn Freeman, 8/11 and the winning basket, constructed with patience, that of 58-60 with 7 seconds left, before Johnson’s last shot. At the PalaSojourner, Effe led for a long time but never broke through (maximum +8 at the start), then it was also in difficulty, especially at the beginning of the quarter (54-50 the worst moment), and a bit like in game 3 in Treviglio its merit was that it never disunited. «A test of great temperament – says a beaming Caja – again a great defense, excellent result. We said we wanted to go all the way, now we will try to do so.” «We brought it home I don’t know how – captain Matteo Fantinelli rejoices with him – this is a very tough pitch, now let’s rest and from tomorrow we’ll think about Trapani». For a Fortitudo team still unbeaten in the playoffs (6-0) there is now a week to prepare for the final series, safe dates on Saturday 1st and Monday 3rd in Sicily, then Thursday 6th at PalaDozza.
Real Sebastiani Rieti-Fortitudo Flats Service Bologna 58-60
Partial: 20-19: 29-33; 48-48.
RIETI: Sarto 5, Sanguinetti, Petrovic 6, Piccin 8, Ancellotti 9, Johnson 10, Raucci 2, Poom, Italiano 3, Nobile, Spanghero 15. All. Rossi.
FORTITUDE: Sergio, Aradori 10, Conti, Bolpin 5, Panni 5, Fantinelli 10, Giuri, Freeman 16, Ogden 13, Morgillo 1. Ne: Kuznetsov. All. Caja.
Referees: Ursi, Centonza, Marzulli.
Field goals: Re 17/54 (9/27 from three), Str 26/57 (5/26 from three). Free throws: Re 15/19, For 3/6. Rebounds: Re 37, For 32. Assists: Re 12, For 12.
Report cards: Sergio 5.5, Aradori 7, Conti 5.5, Bolpin 6.5, Panni 6, Fantinelli 7, Giuri 5.5, Freeman 7.5, Ogden 7, Morgillo 5.5, Caja 7.
