Basketball A2. The American solves game 5 at PalaOltrepo, on Saturday off to the semifinal series with Rome
VOGHERA
The most important responsibility is taken by the most representative player: Jamarr Sanders at 6 “from the end finds a space in the area, penetrates, puts the decisive 78-76 basket on the scoreboard in the third time, which is worth the semifinal with the Eurobasket Rome . The American is the cover man with 18 points, but Mascolo (17) is also the protagonist of the last period, the usual Cannon (17) and an amazing D’Ercole who with his 14 points is another decisive brick of victory. Tortona celebrates and Saturday evening will be engaged again at PalaOltrepo with the advantage of the field (and of the public with a maximum of 500 spectators) against the Capitoline who surprisingly beat Forlì.
The table is set, the mask on the part of the two teams is now thrown and the quintets are the same as they have seen so far in the first four games. One of the tactical themes of the attack immediately presents itself with Mascolo in the low post to assert the physique. The game starts immediately with both inspired teams shooting with high percentages, Bertram runs and is not afraid to push on the accelerator with Sanders who at the end of the first half is already in double figures (12 points). The three little ones deployed by Cancellieri suffer the Tortonesi, but hold on. The coach of the Orasì immediately changed his defenses, from the man to the zone, Rebec after the opaque race 4 starts with great personality. However, the first emotional thrust comes from the long with D’Ercole and Sanders (19-13). The first high-scoring period ends 23-20, the balance that characterized the series remains. While Rebec does everything on the pitch for Orasì, without the two Americans Tortona loses the feeling with the game. Tavernelli is not the same player seen in game 4 with 20 points to his credit and his contribution is missing from the Tortona team. The pace of the race calms down and in the first 5’i of the period Tortona scores only 5 points. Cannon under rebound keeps alive all the balls that pass him on both sides of the field, while with Rebec to breathe Denegri with 5 points leads the Romagna. With Severini, Tavernelli and Ambrosin dry the first half ends with Ravenna above a full basket (40-37) and Sanders offensive soul of the Tortonesi.
Aggression and defense
Aggression and defense are once again the factors also in the second part of the challenge. On the one hand, Cinciarini is the inspirer of the actions of the Orasì, while Sanders continues to lead his teammates. With the attacks on the sidelines, every basket is crucial. In Tortona there is a lot of points from Severini (cold hand from some races), but he puts his head in front with a super action ended by the bomb of Fabi (49-48) and with D’Ercole very hot from the bow. The little ones from Ravenna hurt, but after three quarters it is still a draw and everything is decided in the last ten minutes. The Tortona partial of 7-0 is overbearing, but Ravenna reopens everything after the timeout with five consecutive points. Mascolo dominates the attack with 8 points, but it is Bertram’s defense that like a pincer sticks to the yellow and red tank tops. Once again the Sanders-Cannon axis takes the chair: a two-handed dunk gives +7 (76-69). Rebec is not going to let Tortona escape with 2 ‘from the end, the Lions play two consecutive possessions without taking home a point and at 53 ”from the end they have to suffer because they have 2 points of advantage. At 9 ”from the siren it is still a tie after a penetration by Cinciarini, then Sanders takes care of giving the semifinal .—
Marco Quaglini