There Shark drills one step away from the A2, the Fortitudo Bologna to try to reopen the series. At PalaDozza everything is ready for Game 3 of the playoff final, with the tap-off set for 9.00pm. The Sicilians, ahead 2-0, will try to close the score and conquer Serie A, a goal declared by Valerio Antonini’s club since the beginning of the season. On the other hand, Fortitudo remains without Pietro Aradori, who was injured after two minutes in Game 1, while Mark Ogden – although not at his best – will be in the match.
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1Q (25-11) – We start immediately with a Notae shot, it doesn’t work. Bolpin scores instead: 3-0. At the other end, Amar Alibegovic scored the first two of the Sharks’ match, 3-2 after 1′. Ogden scores the 5-2 with an offensive rebound, a bomb from Conti and 8-2 in the 2nd minute. And Diana immediately timed out: Effe started 10-2 after Fantinelli’s pass behind the back for Conti. After 3′ Gentile comes off with an ankle injury. Meanwhile, Effe hasn’t stopped: Bolpin! Bomb with a foul, the extra free throw doesn’t go but it’s 13-2. The ball circulates well in Trapani’s attack which tries to break the deadlock with Notae’s triple at -9. Trapani shortens further, Bolpin scores the third triple of his match: 16-7 in the 6th minute. After a few minutes of stop following the throwing of a beer onto the pitch, he starts again. Another Fortitudo triple, this time scored by Taflaj and it’s 19-7 in the 8th minute. Mobio unlocks the guest scoreboard with two free throws. Bolpin cuts and makes a basket, already double figures for him. Fantinelli scores a free throw, at the end of the quarter Mobio scores again from midrange but Fantinelli makes PalaDozza explode at the siren: Fortitudo ahead 25-11 after 10′.
2Q (34-26) – Freeman scores from midrange, Pullazi’s bomb at the other end. Great defensive play by Mobio in stopping Freeman, and Pullazi on the other side makes it 27-16, -11 and coach Caja stops the game with a timeout. Trapani finds Stefano Gentile again, injured in the first quarter. Meanwhile, Horton defends strongly, the Sharks can close the gap but Mollura makes a mistake from distance. He no longer scores anyone, in the 14th minute it remains 27-16. Defensive play by Panni who suffers the breakthrough from Alibegovic. Freeman! His dunk broke the deadlock, 29-16 in the 15th minute. Alibegovic is in great difficulty at the moment, but manages to provide an assist for Horton who goes to the line: 29-17 in the 16th minute. Trapani nibbles away on more points, reaching -10, Fortitudo sees the percentages from three drop. But Freeman takes over the home team’s attack, scoring the score 31-19. Marini misses a three, long rebound and bomb from Imbrò: timeout at 31-23 in the 19th minute. Bolpin scores, Notae tries to light up and shoots the triple for -8. Fantinelli makes a mistake on the half-hook, Marini makes a mistake on the mermaid: The score was 34-26 at halftime.
3Q (48-43) – Horton fights under the basket and opens the second half. On the other side there is the usual Riccardo Bolpin who first scores a two, then suffers a foul and scores 2/2 with the clock stopped: it’s already 18 for him. Alibegovic! Juventus #3 bombs, 38-31 after 2:30 in the quarter. Free on the move for Freeman, +9. Great action by the Sharks closed by Horton’s dunk, 40-33 in the 23rd minute. Freeman receives underneath, dump for Ogden and nailed. Mian isn’t in the mood for the evening, he misses an open triple and commits the fourth foul of his match. Coach Diana puts Notae back on, taken off two minutes into the period. Very low percentages in this quarter, neither team finds easy points. Marini takes Trapani by the hand, goes to the line twice: Trapani shortens to 42-35 in the 27th minute. Bologna also scores again and does so with the clock stopped. Horton serves Marini’s backdoor, suffered greatly by Giuri: 44-37. Notae fails to attack, Diana replaces him again after a turnover. Morgillo wastes two easy points, Imbrò doesn’t forgive and shoots a triple to make it -6, 46-40 in the 29th minute. Morgillo redeems himself with two free throws. Alibeogic enters and scores the -5 basket from far away. Mian almost hits a basket at the mermaid from mid-court: 48-43 the score after 30′.
4Q LIVE – Airball by Sergio, Alibegovic invents a reverse basket that is worth -3. Gantinelli attacks Imbrò from the post and scores, then a technical comes to the Trapani bench but Bolpin doesn’t convert the free throw, 50-45 in the 31st minute. Blocked by Freeman on Marini, fifth foul by Mian and Notae returns. Extremely bad loss by Freeman, another airball this time by Pullazi, really imprecise teams. Notae tries from the middle, error, on the other side Fantinelli launches Conti and +7, 52-45 at 33′, Diana timeout. Horton rebounds, two free throws. On the other hand Morgillo with personality, placed by the average of 54-47. Imbrò’s magic for Horton who serves the assist for two easy ones from Alibegovic for -5. Clothes! 57-49 bomb. Alibegovic tries to answer but it doesn’t work, 57-49 at 35′. Big basket by Notae leaning on the backboard. After a timeout, Ogden goes to the line and scores 1/2. The Notae and Horton pair produces two points of the new -5. Notae error, Imbro error. Bolpin loses the ball, Notae serves Alibegovic, lost and still 58-53 in the 37th minute. Bolpin has to force, airball and Fortitudo timeout with 2:30 to play. Notae makes a mistake, lost ball. Bolpin error, ALIBEGOVIC doesn’t tremble: bomb of the -2 with 1:30 on the clock. CLOTHES! Distance response for the new +5. Sensational at PalaDozza, bomb also by Imbrò and 61-59 with 40 seconds left. Bolpin tries and makes a two-pointer for +4. Last thirty seconds, Alibegovic stopped, Trapani fouls with only 8.8 seconds left.
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PREMATCH
Shark drills
Andrea Diana (coach) – “We come from a game 2 in which we suffered from Bologna’s level of intensity on both sides of the pitch, showing a game that does not highlight our best qualities. We approached the match less effectively than in game 1, and this meant starting struggling and chasing. Now we move to PalaDozza, the temple of Italian basketball, knowing that we are going to face a team that never gives up and that wants to extend the series. It’s up to us to present ourselves with the right spirit. A different approach and continuity over the 40 minutes will be fundamental to closing and crowning our dream and that of an entire city.”
Chris Horton (player, power forward) – “It was fundamental for us to have won the first 2 games. We want to close it immediately, but aware that it won’t be easy, because they are a strong team that won’t give up and will be helped by the support of the home crowd. It will be a good challenge like the previous 2
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