Tortona subverts predictions and overcomes the favorite in the decisive play-off thanks to the percentage (43%) of the three-point shot
TORINO. The dream becomes reality, Tortona beats Turin in race 5 and rises to the A1 series. The ending is throbbing, like the whole series. Sanders’ hand does not tremble and for a single point (75-74) the Lions perform an unexpected miracle against a more structured and strong team.
The table is perfectly set for the last act of the season and diners do not wait with Turin which begins with an incredible voracity. In the beautiful setting of the Pala Gianni Asti, the tension is likely to be right from the warm-up. Ramondino and Cavina are tense and concentrated, each in their own corner. Of the 500 in the arena, the majority is clearly for the Reale Mutua yellow jerseys, but the fifty or so Tortonese fans are compact in the corner and explode at the end of the match.
The start of Turin on both sides is breathtaking, Diop is immediately a factor in the painted area (complete with a dunk). Under 8-0 without being able to put together a good deed, Ramondino is forced to call timeout: his team wake up with a transition that leads Fabi to a more foul basket. But the wave of Reale Mutua, led by Cappelletti (14 points in the first half) is long, Bertram is only allowed to shoot from three points and after five minutes it is 16-7 for Cavina’s boys. With the Bianconeri outsiders lost, it is once again up to Cannon to keep the Lions in the game with the usual power. When Reale Mutua loosens its grip, Tortona takes courage and stitches up again (22-19) with a bomb from Mascolo at the end and a 9-0 run.
The tear on the return to the field is the work of Pimkins with six consecutive points, Tortona however has the maturity to stay in the game and remains in contact with an impressive long streak. Mascolo, Sanders and Fabi put their feet behind the arch and never take them off.
The defending team is reactive, with two bombs scored the Reale Mutua is at only one point (32-31). Supported by 47% from three to the long siren it is parity (49-49) with Sanders, Mascolo and Cannon already in double figures. He returns to the field and Reale begins to push his towers and constantly put the ball under the basket for Diop and Pimkins, but as has happened so far Tortona has the heart and will to react. It’s up to Sanders and Mascolo to take Tortona by the hand and the race remains point by point. On the opposite side with Cappelletti out it is Clark who takes on the main responsibilities. With 5 points to recover at the start of the decisive last ten minutes of the season (and Cannon rested for the entire third period), the game becomes increasingly rough and physical with the Lions continuing to shoot from the long and moving forward a point with Mascolo’s bomb from the corner (67-66).
Cavina after having kept Diop for several minutes on the bench returns to focus on the big Senegalese who is immediately a cumbersome presence for the longs of Tortona. The match continues point by point (69-68 for Turin with 3 ‘from the end). Cappelletti’s triple seems to split the game in two, but Tortona has nine lives and with Tavernelli’s basket (plus foul) he is even ahead a minute from the end. The final is for strong hearts: Clark scores, Cappelletti fouls Sanders who scores two of the three free throws. The curve of the Lions explodes, Tortona is in A1. Fabi cuts the retina of victory, the gunslinger of the race (mvp) is Mascolo with 20 points.marco quaglini