In Tortona the shot fails Milan takes the Ferraris

The quintet of coach Ramondino yields in the final more for fouls than for athleticism. On the players’ shirts the anti-war slogan: “Stop War, play basketball”

CASALE MONFERRATO

The Ax Armani Exchange Milano asserts all its thickness. Bertram Tortona fails to avenge the defeat of the Italian Cup final.

The home team starts very well, finding good solutions in attack from the usual Macura, but then Armani proves to have more talent and depth on the roster. If in the cup the Lombard team had built their own reach in the final, but last night the decisive advantage came slowly from the second period.

The two teams do not run, but prefer to play with the defenses lined up: Tortona quickly makes the ball circulate, as is his habit, while in defense he starts with the 2-3 th zone, but Milan always takes advantage of the weak side. On the one hand Chris Wright, on the other “El Chaco” Rodriguez, raise the level and intensity of the challenge. Behind the Olimpia he erects his wall, with the entry of Hines, while in attack he finds important points from his Italians, as with the former Alviti who places a bomb. Bertram finds resources from everyone, already 7 players “dirty” the scoresheet at 10 ‘. At the start of the second quarter in a contact of the game Cannon injures his ankle and is forced to exit. While Tommaso Baldasso tries to split the match in two: accurate shooting and in the version of an assist man. Derthona, however, remains there: -3 at the interval.

Upon returning from the locker rooms, they continue to score regularly, but Armani is definitely on the ball, finding the advantage in double figures; the Juventus defense is lacking the right aggression.

However, Ramondino’s quintet does not give up, but commits too many fouls, exhausting the bonus: contacts that do not convince the public and the Piedmontese technical staff. Meanwhile, however, Milan stretches from the line of charity. Tortona tries to raise the quintet. Coach Messina’s team is not surprised, turns up the pace and decides to close the practice. Rodriguez places the bomb that puts an end to the match. The Armani plays by heart and brings 4 players in double figures.

Bertram certainly does not come out reduced given that it was facing a team that is traveling to almost 70% victories in the Euroleague, behind the Spanish Barcelona and Real Madrid. Tortona still remains in the full play off area. Surely the public and the initiative of patron Gavio won: the t-shirts with the message “Stop War, play basketball” and the ball with the colors of the Ukrainian flag, t-shirts worn by all the protagonists on the pitch in the warm-up. –

FRANCO SCABROSETTI