Last evening.
Thanks to a great team performance, Acqua S.Bernardo passes the first round of the Final Eight Coppa Italia LNP, eliminating a Tezenis Verona capable of conquering ten consecutive victories in the league. At the “PalaLeombroni” in Chieti he ends 80 to 79. Cantù, therefore, enters tomorrow’s semifinal where he will face, this time in Roseto degli Abruzzi, Givova Scafati, winner of the other quarter-final against Monferrato. The match between Cantù and Scafati will therefore close tomorrow, on the pitch at 18:00 at the “PalaMaggetti” in Roseto; eventual final always in Roseto, Sunday at 7pm.
Italian Basketball Cup Cantù beats Verona and goes to the semifinals
Acqua S.Bernardo on the field at the duo with Bryant, Allen, Severini, Da Ros and Bayehe; the guests respond by deploying Caroti, Anderson, Rosselli, Johnson and Pini. Excellent start of the canturini, immediately precise from beyond the arc with the triple in sequence by Allen, Severini and Da Ros; the latter two the ex of the evening. After 4 ‘of play Cantù leads the game, ahead 11 to 8 under the eyes of his captain, Sergio, present in the stands cheering for his teammates. The response of the Scaligera, however, was not long in coming and, with Caroti first and then Johnson, the Venetian team managed to place the counter-overtake, 17-18 two and a half minutes from the end of the first fraction. In the final, Bucarelli and Nikolic take Cantù forward by two possessions; 24-20 at 10 ‘, to report an unsportsmanlike foul by Candussi in the last minute.
The second period begins with Bryant in great shape, author of four consecutive points; two of these really valuable, the result of a crush. Acqua S.Bernardo ahead of three possessions: 28-20 at the start. The advantage gained by Cantù increases thanks to the triple on target of a very inspired Allen, which allows the Brianza players to stretch by nine lengths (31-22). La Scaligera comes back up in the score but Bucarelli, from three, allows the biancoblù to embrace, with merit, the three discarded possessions. Bucarelli himself, on the counterattack after a good steal by Da Ros, serves Allen the ball of +9 which forces coach Ramagli to stop the game with a time out. Upon returning to the field, the predictable reaction of Verona was not long in coming, back to -5. The gap remains unchanged even at the long interval and the two teams thus return to the locker room on the partial of 38 to 33 in the 20 ‘.
The second half opens as the first had finished, that is, with Allen increasingly protagonist of the match, already at 17 points. The situation at Acqua S.Bernardo is complicated when, not even 3 ‘from the start of the quarter, Bayehe is forced to return to the bench due to two fouls spent in an amen; already four fouls against the Cameroonian international. At this point it is once again Allen who takes the entire attack on his shoulders, scoring five consecutive points that allow Cantù to get back the advantage of two full possessions; 46-40 in the middle of the fraction. However, a proud Verona manages to rise in the score thanks to a flash of its captain, Rosselli. A moment later, Tezenis’s tile: the “bomber” Anderson is sanctioned with a fourth personal foul following a remedied technician. In the final Caroti tries to reverse the trend with one basket after another; He scaligera just two lengths behind Cantù. Eighty-five seconds from the end of the third quarter Candussi signs the dunk of the equalizer, long chased by the yellow-blue team. Stefanelli, from the bench gives strength to Cantù with a great triple, savoring for a moment the two possessions of advantage, before Grant’s dunk. Cusin in the final seconds signs the momentary +4 from the line, closing the third quarter 60 to 56.
The last part of the game opens with Verona much more fluid in attack, Candussi and Spanghero the protagonists at the start. Udom in the line is 1 out of 3, enough, however, to equalize. Udom, still him, signs the overtaking at La Scala. 62-64 with a good six minutes from the end; coach Sodini wants to see clearly and stops everything with a time out. Upon returning to the field, Stefanelli is immediately forgiven by a naive foul on Udom’s triple attempt, shortly before, making a great basket with courage. Two triples, one in a row to the other, by Stefanelli and Da Ros, bring Cantù back four points after a long time; 70-66 at 35 ‘. Thirty seconds later Bayehe is forced to leave the court due to his fifth personal foul, Cusin in place of him for the final match. On the other hand, however, Caroti is still unleashed and it is he who leads Tezenis ahead of one (72-73). Da Ros replies immediately: a very heavy triple two and a half minutes from the end. Cusin’s tap-in as essential as the air, Canturini ahead 77 to 73. Da Ros, again Da Ros: second consecutive triple for the strong forward of S.Bernardo. One minute from the end, Bucarelli leaves the floor for five fouls. Final with the thrill: Rosselli scores the triple of -1 but the winner is Cantù, who flies to the semifinals. It ends 80 to 79.
