Fortitudo Overcomes Pesaro and Enters Playoffs Thanks to Gabriel and Freeman

FORTUDO

94

PESARO

85

FLATS SERVICE: Fantinelli 8, Bolpin 6, Mian 11, Gabriel 30, Freeman 22, Vencato 4, Panni 5, Aradori 6, Cusin 2, Battistini no, Bonfiglioli no, Ferrucci Morandi no. Coach Caja.

CARPEGNA PESARO: Bucarelli 13, Ahmad 26, Lombardi 7, Maretto 8, Zanotti 9, King 4, Imbrò, Petrovic 14, De Laurentiis 4, Cornis ne. Coach Leka.

Referees: Cassina, Miniati, M. Attard.

Notes: Partials 32-18, 56-42, 75-64. Two-pointers: Fortitudo 15/32; Pesaro 18/24. Three-pointers: 15/33; 9/34. Free throws: 19/20; 22/30. Rebounds: 37; 30.

Fortitudo beats Pesaro and conquers the playoffs where they will face Cantù. At PalaDozza thanks to the performance of Kenny Gabriel and Deshawn Freeman, Attilio Caja's team dominates the team from Marche from start to finish and at the end of a very hot challenge, overcomes the Caudine Forks of the play in and prepares for another tough test with the team from Brianza.

The official announcement expected today is still missing, but on Saturday in Desio it will already be time for game one, followed on Monday by the second challenge of the quarterfinals. On Thursday 15 and possibly Saturday 17 the challenge will move to PalaDozza to return, in the event of game five, again to Desio on Tuesday 20.

With Pesaro, the two Americans are dragging Fortitudo, with a performance by both Gabriel and Freeman of the highest level. The challenge is immediately downhill for Effe with the white-blues who, encouraged by the public, reach +17 on 32-15 already at the 9th minute. Pesaro is slow to get into the game with the challenge that except for a guest jolt, for the 10-11 at the 4th minute is always in the hands of Matteo Fantinelli and his teammates. In the second quarter, with a break of 3-12, Pesaro gets back to 40-33, but it is still the triples of an unleashed Gabriel and that of Riccardo Bolpin that push the white-reds away. The +14 at half time is the confirmation of the white-blue superiority.

At the beginning of the second half Caja immediately loses Vencato, and even though the shooting percentages are not the same, Fortitudo's defense always keeps Pesaro in check. At 26' Effe ahead 71-55, then slowly the red and white tide rises. Caja's team is forced to deal with the many fouls, and so Pesaro climbs back up to 87-80 at 36'.

A stoic Fantinelli and the usual Gabriel, yet another triple, this time for 92-81 with 2'13'' to go, bring the curtain down on the match and allow Fortitudo to experience a magical evening.