CASALE MONFERRATO – At the Palaenergica Ferraris in Casale Monferrato in game 3 of the quarter-finals of the Serie A basketball play-offs Derthona prevailed against Bologna with the result of 91 to 81. After the two defeats in game 1 and game 2 which allowed Bologna to set foot in the semi-final, Derthona reopens the games and with tonight’s victory confirms the good performances of the first two matches despite the defeat. Derthona will be able to fight again for a place in the semifinals next Saturday in game 4.
Always ahead in scoring, deadly from beyond the arc (15/36 against the visitors’ 23%) and stronger than the opponents’ superiority in attacking rebounds for a good part of the match, the team coached by De Raffaele managed to enhance the sold-out of the Casale Monferrato plant.
Compared to the two opening matches, Virtus does not feature Lundberg due to the knee injury in game 2 but recovers Shengelia, making her debut in the playoffs, Severini again out for the home team. Bertram immediately makes it clear that she doesn’t want to end the season here, the rolling start marks the 3/3 from three of Strautins and Weems (2), who celebrates in the best way the return to the starting lineup by favoring the 11-2 of Obasohan after 3′. The double technical to Ross and Cordinier ignites the tension, Derthona continues to be the protagonist of an exciting first quarter, concentrated in defense and precise from beyond the arc (6/9 from three in the first period). Again from 6.75, baskets from Baldasso and Weems arrive for the double-digit advantage, Candi takes it to a maximum of +14 (27-13) a few seconds from the end of the quarter, which arrives with the score of 27-15.
Virtus, who in the meantime gave Shengelia her debut, clung to offensive rebounds, a more sharp Hackett and the physical impact of Abass and Zizic to get closer in the second quarter, their effort led to 39-34 in the 18th minute, but a 4 -0 personal of a leonine Dowe sets the 43-34 with which we go to the locker rooms.
After the long break the guests return to the pitch better, Tortona suddenly loses itself in attack, remains dry for the first 3′ of the second half and the virtuoso comeback is effectively completed at 43-42. From De Raffaele’s time-out Bertram returns to racing and places a 12-2 counterbreak with Obasohan, Ross and Baldasso raising the decibels of the system for the new double-digit margin set by Kamagate at 55-44 of the 25′. There are partials and counterparties, in the new Bolognese there is Cordinier on the shields (55-52 at 27′), Radosevic scores an important triple but Tortona wastes three in a single action which could have made the end of the third period happier of 60-54 produced by Baldasso’s basket.
Two triples in a row by Strautins and Candi (who reaches 1000 points in Serie A) bring Derthona back to +10, 68-58, Ross and Baldasso also return to participate in the heavy basket festival. Hackett and Belinelli respond with the same coin for Virtus and with 5′ to go the gap is still 10 points, 76-66. Baldasso experiences one of his classic magical moments from sidereal distance, Strautins is not far behind and scores the score 85-72. There are still 3 minutes to go but it effectively becomes the basket of the bracket, with the hosts even reaching 90 to celebrate the success.
Coach Walter De Raffaele at the end of the match:
Deserved and very important victory against a very strong team that can count on an infinite rotation, with Euroleague players, because let’s not forget that they were the protagonists in the European competition until the end. A success that ennobles my boys’ championship, they outdid themselves in terms of availability given the difficulties we had with various injuries. As we said, we didn’t want to be a meteor in the playoffs but we wanted to be able to make an impact. Let’s give another home game to our wonderful fans, we are growing in this series, now let’s try to recover the huge amount of energy spent, especially in some players who played out of role.
