Fortitudo finally: Bologna in the playoffs against Cantù

Bologna, 6 May 2025 – Fortitudo at last, finally the playoffs. Bologna puts on its most elegant dress, which in front of the 4600 of PalaDozza bends Pesaro 94-85 in the second round of the A2 play-in and after a troubled end of the season reaches the quarterfinals: on the road of the white and blues comes Cantù, third place at the end of the regular season. It will start this weekend in Brianza for the first two challenges of the series.

The news

Gabriel's frontal block on Ahmad, counterattack and triple by the American: the start of the Effe is a shock wave that is one with the decibels of the 'Madison', but it is a flash in the pan that burns out with the 0-5 of Lombardi, who makes it equal and draw in half a turn of the clock (10-10). Bologna then raises the speed in defense and, passing from the hands of captain Fantinelli (5 assists in the first quarter), finds with Freeman, Gabriel, Aradori and Panni the devastating break of 17-2 that gives the +16, the inertia and the fire in the eyes. With Pesaro adrift Petrovic gives a timid sign of life to his team, Vencato makes it +17, before the loss of Aradori and the triple by Ahmad that makes it 32-18 at the first siren.

King and Petrovic's solo runs in the area, technical foul for protests to Fantinelli and a red and white counter-partial that alerts coach Caja, forced to take a time-out: Effe dissipates the defensive polish of the first 10', Pesaro gains confidence and makes -7 thanks to Maretto's step back, spiced up by an additional free throw.

Then finally the ringing of the owners of the house, who reopens the gap with close triples from Gabriel and Bolpin, putting his hands back on the handlebars of the match (49-36). Gabriel (22 points 20') puts the white-blue first half back in the frame, making it 56-42 from the free throw line and sending everyone to the long break.

At this point the Effe is dressed as the first quarter, despite losing Vencato due to a knee injury: Fantinelli calls, Freeman provides and Bolpin puts in the ace of trumps nullifying the Marche team (65-49). Panni signs the maximum advantage (+18), then the Bologna switch goes off, just enough to allow Ahmad and Zanotti to literally carry the whole team on their shoulders and find the -9. Free of Aradori and with 10' to go it's 75-64.

Imbrò is out of the game for a technical with the game stopped and the last fraction opens with Aradori's free throws that give Fortitudo a +13: but Pesaro doesn't sit back and watch and with the usual Ahmad mends up to -8 with 6' still to play. Gabriel writes 30, Effe +11 and with 2' to go the fourth siren has already started the party song. The one aware that the playoffs arrived not without difficulty: but maybe now the fun begins.

The little table

Fortitude 94 Pesaro 85 Flats Service Fortitudo Bologna: Ferrucci Morandi no, Bonfiglioli no, Vencato 4, Aradori 6, Gabriel 30, Battistini no, Bolpin 6, Panni 5, Cusin 2, Mian 11, Fantinelli 8, Freeman 22. Coach Caja. VL Pesaro: Petrovic 14, Cornis, Maretto 8, Imbrò, De Laurentis 4, King 4, Bucarelli 13, Lombardi 7, Zanotti 9, Ahmad 26. Coach Leka. Referees: Cassina, Miniati, Attard. Notes: partial scores 32-18; 56-42; 54-39. Two-pointers: Fortitudo 15/32; Pesaro 18/24. Three-pointers: 15/33; 9/34. Free throws: 19/20; 22/30. Rebounds: 37; 30.