A dream Tortona flies to the semifinals

Bertram again conquers PalaTaliercio, Venice ko Now the challenge with Virtus Bologna, Leoni already in history

MASTER (And)

Bertram Tortona writes history, the Piedmontese conquer the PalaTaliercio in Mestre for the second time in 48 hours, ending the play-off quarter-final series 3-1 against the best of 5 matches against Umana Reyer Venezia. Now the Juventus team will face Virtus Segafredo Bologna in the semifinals who will have the home factor, given that the Italian champions ended the regular season in first place.

Ramondino’s tactics

The zone defense of coach Marco Ramondino allows Bertram to limit the attacks of Reyer, who struggles to get to the iron. On the other hand, Jp Macura scores the first 7 points of the Piedmontese team, who takes a break (4-11). The lagunari try to surprise the Juventus defense, but end up wasting 5 opportunities, so the guests arrive with a double-digit advantage (4-14). Coach Walter De Raffaele relies on Cerella, who sticks to Wright like a hound, putting pressure on his opponents: the orogranata gain momentum and pack a partial counter of 5-0. Tortona, however, continues to bounce back, keeping a 6-point lead at the end of the first quarter. The two teams shoot badly in general, but it seems that Bertram has more energy. In the second quarter little is scored, confirming what has been seen in the three previous matches, with the Umana more attentive in defense that mends the tear thanks to the plays of Theodore: 26-26, The American playmaker becomes a factor because the attacks pass from the his hands or are finalized by himself. A couple of hesitations in attack by the Lions, but they arrive at the long break with a three-point advantage. Tortona got off to a good start in the third quarter with a sidereal distance bomb from Sanders and Wright’s winning counterattack, after a steal. Theodore remains the beacon of the Venetian attack: the balance continues and the contacts with the often stopped game are accentuated. When Bertram tries to stretch, he makes some blue pencil mistakes, allowing Reyer to stay there. Very low score, thanks to the tiredness of the two teams. The former Filloy with two bombs and a couple of assists tries to make the Piedmontese escape but on the other side Venice is not there and tries to mend the tear from the arch; the Lions believe in it and cross the finish line.

Play off. Quarter finals (best of 5 games). Race 3: Sassari-Brescia 98-68 (series 2-1). Race 4: Venice-Tortona 60-72 (series 1-3, Tortona in the semifinal). Today (9 pm): Sassari-Brescia; Virtus Bologna and Milan already in the semifinals. –

FRANCO SCABROSETTI