Fortitudo Suffers Comeback, But Goes to Game 4

FORTUDO

77

CANTU'

68

FLATS SERVICE: Fantinelli 15, Bolpin 8, Mian 9, Gabriel 20, Freeman 9; Panni 6, Aradori 8, Cusin 2, Sabatini no, Battistini no, Ferrucci Morandi no, Bonfiglioli no. Coach Caja.

ACQUA S. BERNARDO CANTU': Valentini 3, McGee 18, Riismaa 1, Basile 15, Hogue 1; Baldi Rossi 8, Moraschini 9, De Nicolao 2, Piccoli 9, Okeke 2. Coach Brienza.

Referees: L. Attard, Perocco, Morassutti. Notes: partial scores 17-23, 32-40, 55-49. Two-pointers: Fortitudo 19/35; Cantù 9/22. Three-pointers: 8/20; 13/37. Free throws: 15/18; 11/16. Rebounds: 38; 30.

Fortitudo makes the most of the PalaDozza factor, beats Cantù and takes the series to game 4 scheduled for tomorrow evening, at 20.30:2 pm, again at the Madison in Piazza Azzarita. The heart, pride and usual excellent defense put on the field by the team and the support of the white and blue crowd made the difference in a game where Attilio Caja's Effe struggled in the first two quarters to find the way to the basket, but then stepped up in the second half. Only a historic Matteo Fantinelli, together with Riccardo Bolpin and Pietro Aradori, held firm in the first half, then the challenge changed. Kenny Gabriel, together with Matteo Fantinelli, was the man of the match. The American at halftime stopped at 13 points, took the stage and with 13 points in the third quarter of the game gave the decisive push to the match, completely changing the inertia of the confrontation. With the Cantù fans absent due to the nominal tickets, Fossa gives life to a splendid choreography that involves the entire PalaDozza with banners and flags. A minute of silence in memory of Mirco "Lollo" Lolli, then it begins. Cantù finds great continuity with the long-distance shot, while Fortitudo clings to its defense. The challenge seems to be in the hands of Acqua S.Bernardo. Thanks to the umpteenth initiative of the ex Virtus Baldi Rossi, the Brianza team is ahead by 17 on 30-13 at 8'. The -10 of the interval, with Gabriel and Freeman absent until that moment and given the percentages of the opponents (21 out of XNUMX from three), almost seems like a positive note for Effe.

Indeed, it is so: in the second half it is a completely different story with the audience including Carlton Myers, who witnesses the Effe turnaround.

Gabriel starts the 10-0 that brings Effe back to -1 42-43 at 23'.

The technicians to Aradori and Cusin further ignite the impetus of the Effe with Gabriel who ties and Fantinelli who brings them ahead on 47-45 at 27'. The usual stoic Fantinelli, a rediscovered Fabio Mian contribute to give the new extension, even if the final push is given by the triples of Alessandro Panni and Gabriel. Tomorrow we return to the game for game 4, the pre-emption for season ticket holders has already started.