Fortitudo Bologna conquers Livorno and closes eighth in A2

LIBERTAIS LIVORNO

66

FORTUDO

71

LIBERTAS LIVORNO: Hole 5, Banks 17, Bargnesi ne, Fantoni 1, Tozzi 2, Filloy 8, Allinei 2, Pollone, Hooker 23, Paoletti ne, Italiano 8. Coach Di Carlo.

FLATS SERVICE FORTITUDO: Bonfiglioli ne, Vencato 7, Aradori 21, Gabriel 20, Battistini, Menalo ne, Bolpin 3, Panni 5, Cusin 2, Mian 7, Freeman 6. Coach Caja.

Referees: Foti, Nuara and Pecorella.

Notes: Partials 9-21; 27-38; 55-53. Two-pointers: Livorno 18/33; Bologna 9/22. Three-pointers: 6/32; 13/36. Free throws: 12/17; 14/18. Rebounds: 44; 38.

Like a kind of smile. The negative streak of coach Attilio Caja's Fortitudo ends at PalaModigliani, who conquers Livorno on the last day of the A2 regular season after 4 yellow reports in a row, but thanks to the other responses they will still have to face the play-in carousel. Bologna finishes eighth and will await the winner of Pesaro-Torino at PalaDozza.

Livorno starts strong, with two good defenses and with Mian, Freeman and Gabriel's 2+1 to open on 2-8 that lasts the 4-0 time without obstacles from Hooker and Allinei. Livorno does not see the basket from long range, Bologna takes advantage with Gabriel's free throws, Freeeman's reverse and Aradori's triple, goes +12 and gets its hands on the handlebars of the match with enthusiasm: free throws from the number 4 white and blue and at the first siren it is 9-21. However, it is the former Fortitude Italiano and Banks who give oxygen to the lungs of the Tuscans at the beginning of the second quarter, with the break of 14-3 that, aided by Hooker, from a fuse becomes a fire in no time at all: 23-24 and Effe on the legs.

The reaction comes effectively after Caja's time-out. Aradori's 5 points and Cusin's backdoor in fact castrate Libertas' enthusiasm and the guests reopen the gap: double free throws for Vencato and Freeman and it's time for the long break 27-38.

Bologna, however, remains in the closet: Hooker puts on a solo show at the start of the second half and Livorno comes within 37-38, neutralizing the gap in small sips.

Panni and Vencato see the basket again after 4' of nothing, but the wind blows on the local sails, who place the partial with Banks, Hooker and Buca and put their head ahead for the first time 48-46. Gabriel snakes and finds the triple of +3, but the unsportsmanlike called on Cusin gives Banks the free throws of 55-53 at the third siren. Then it's a carousel of errors for half a quarter. Bolpin and Panni find the right tracks with the jumpers of +4, but Banks steps up to the chair to make it even and draw, slightly anticipating the other professor: two triples by Aradori for +2 with 2' to go. Gabriel takes the credits for eighth place.