Pesaro, February 20, 2022 – TheArmani AX Milano rise to the sky the eighth Italian Cup in its history repeating the success achieved last year at the Forum. In fact, in the final act of the Pesaro Final Eight Olimpia won over Bertram Tortona for 78-61. Thus ends the story of the Piedmontese on the most beautiful, at the first final of their history and in any case came out with full merit among the applause of the almost 5000 spectators who flocked today to the Vitrifrigo Arena. In spite of the final difference, in fact, Bertram has been able to sell her skin very dearly, yielding only in the final stage under the blows from the arc of Devon Hall (12 points) e Gigi Datome. In the ranks of the formation of coach Ettore Messina – who thus puts his ninth Coppa Italia on the bulletin board – however, the contribution provided by Nicolò Melli (best Italian of the cup) who once again led an impeccable red and white defense (only 28 points granted to Tortona in the second half) and who closed by touching the double double (14 points and 9 rebounds). The palm of the MVP of the Final Eight fell into the hands of Malcolm Delaney. On the other hand, on the Tortona side, the 17 points of a once again enthralling JP Macura were not enough, the 12 of Ariel Filloy (best sixth man in the competition) and the 11 of Bruno Mascolo.
The race
Olimpia immediately pressed on the accelerator pedal, hitting from the arc with the triples of Daniels, Delaney and Hall (3/4 from three and 3/4 from two starting for Milan) who gave the first attempt to escape of the red and white who touched the first double-digit advantage over 21-11. A +10 changed to +12 at the sound of the first siren (25-13). However, during the first mini-break Tortona was able to gather ideas and in the second fraction he raised the engine revs relying on a wild JP Macura (11 points in the fraction), punishing some offensive mistakes too many in Milan and managing to return to single figure of disadvantage to the long break (40-31). Prelude to what was done after the long interval, when Macura himself, together with Filloy and Mascolo, continued to fuel Tortona’s run-up, capable of hitting -1 on 44-43. Milan, however, managed not to be overtaken and to escape the danger with the winning conclusions of Hall, Hines and Melli, it earned the red and white +6 10 ‘from the end (53-47). In the 10 ‘finals, Tortona’s energy reserve light finally lit up and Olimpia was able to take advantage of it stretching up to +21maximum advantage of the evening achieved thanks to the Rodriguez and Datome bombs.
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