Fortitudo beats Cantù 74-68: Gabriel and Freeman lead to victory

FORTUDO

74

CANTù

68

FLATS SERVICE: Fantinelli 14, Bolpin 1, Mian 6, Gabriel 25, Freeman 18, Panni 3, Aradori 3, Cusin 4, Sabatini no, Battistini no, Ferrucci Morandi no, Bonfiglioli no. Coach Caja.

ACQUA SAN BERNARDO CANTÙ: De Nicolao, McGee 17, Piccoli 5, Basile 18, Hogue 5, Valentini 5, Riismaa, Baldi Rossi 5, Moraschini 11, Okeke 2. Coach Brienza.

Referees: Vita, Berlangeri, Centonza.

Notes: Partials 25-17, 39-28, 55-44. Two-pointers: Fortitudo 16/27; Cantù 13/29. Three-pointers: 8/29; 9/30. Free throws: 18/21; 15/23. Rebounds: 38; 35.

Here we go to the tiebreaker. Fortitudo makes the most of the PalaDozza factor, even in game four, and ties the series with Cantù 2-2. Heart, determination, the usual excellent defense, the excellent performance of the American duo Gabriel-Freeman among the protagonists of the victory, but above all an immense captain Fantinelli have led Effe to success. Tuesday, at 20,30:3 pm at PalaDesio, the decision will be made as to who will face Rieti in the semifinals, who got rid of Urania Milano 0-XNUMX.

Also in the front row to watch was the CEO of Bologna, Claudio Fenucci, applauded by the entire PalaDozza. First phase of study, then the Flats Service on the Gabriel-Freeman axis tries to give the first push to the match.

The two Americans are the protagonists dragging and being dragged by the public. At 8' Effe ahead 22-13 with Brienza forced to ask for time.

The white-blues reach their maximum advantage at +10 on 25-15 in the first quarter, then retouch it to +11 on 30-19 at the beginning of the second quarter. At halftime Freeman and Gabriel are already in double figures with 14 and 11 points.

In the second half Cantù tries to stay in the match, but Fortitudo still relies on the verve of the Americans with Gabriel looking like a long-distance basket machine and Freeman cleaning up under the basket.

In the last fraction, despite half the team Gabriel, Bolpin, Panni and Freeman with 4 fouls, the extraordinary defensive intensity of the white and blues did not decrease.

Gabriel, Freeman and an extraordinary Fantinelli gave the final push to the match, repelling the last assault of a Cantù that came back to -4 at 36' on 63-59 and then to -3 69-66 with 33” to go. Effe and its people win, and now on to Tuesday's beautiful match.