Cantù beats Udine: it's the Italian Cup final

With a sensational razor-sharp finish in overtime, the Cantù basketball eliminate the leader Udine and flies to the final of Coppa Italia, also avenging the direct clash in the championship which, in fact, cost the race for promotion in Serie A without playoffs. Perhaps the best performance of Brienza's team this season, led by a top-flight Valentini: 30 points with 7/13 from 3 and 6 assists with 5 fouls suffered. A lesson from the Cantù playmaker, inspired in the presence of a very strong team, and which rewards Cantù's comeback in the fourth quarter.

The only flaw was the shaking hand at the end of regulation time, when Caroti fouled on yet another attempted three-pointer with nine seconds to play. Down by one, Valentini made the first free throw, but missed the next two and Hogue's rebound was not rewarded by a new attempt by Piccoli. Also noteworthy were McGee's 29 and Riccardo Moraschini's 14, given his 5 rebounds and 6 assists. In overtime there was only one team on the court, as demonstrated by the partial score of 16-8. The final on Sunday, Cantù dreams of the first trophy of this management, even if without a promotion at stake.

APU UDINE-BASKETBALL CANTÙ 102-110 (22-26, 29-21, 19-21, 24-26, 8-16).

Alessandro Luigi Maggi