Andrea Costa takes the derby again. Virtus starts better, then gets lost

ANDREA COSTA

100

VIRTUS

85

UP ANDREA COSTA: Fazzi 17, Pavani 1, Benintendi, Toniato 16, Filippini 9, Klanjscek 7, Chiappelli 8, Martini, Raucci 13, Sanguinetti 17, Zedda 12. Coach Vecchi.

NEUPHARMA VIRTUS: Masciarelli 7, Zalgheri 2, Fiusco 4, Morina 9, Valentini 7, Vaulet 29, Vannini, Santandrea 2, Kadjividi ne, Pinza 6, Ambrosin 9, Ricci 10. Coach Galetti.

Referees: Suriano and Giovagnini.

Notes: Partials 21-21; 52-49; 80-71. Two-pointers: 19/34; 18/35. Three-pointers: 16/35; 12/28. Free throws: 13/17; 12/18. Rebounds: 37-33.

Andrea Costa rises again in the most important match of the year and takes home a derby that is fundamental for its salvation race. Virtus, despite being impaired in the long range, held firm with the plays of an overflowing Vaulet but the red and white attack, once again sharp from long range, prevailed over 40 spectacular minutes for the packed PalaRuggi. Third defeat in a row for Galetti's men, further away from the playin area, while coach Vecchi celebrates his first success at the Ruggi on his best night. Fazzi is in the starting five in the Up while Ricci is the only long in Virtus who with Vaulet signs the 7-11 at 3'.

Vecchi's changes move Andrea Costa who finds the courage to enter the area, but it is the percentages from the arc that push the comeback until Filippini overtakes at 21-20 at 9'. Virtus rotates the outside players and throws in Ambrosin, but the inertia remains red and white with Toniato and Raucci who sign the 26-21 at the start of the second quarter. Fiusco keeps the yellow and blacks in contact who launch the zone while Vecchi in turn lightens the quintet and sees his team escape to +10 (42-32) at 15', but he is unable to shake off the shadow of Virtus. Sanguinetti takes it upon himself but on the other side Vaulet (22 at halftime) and his teammates find effectiveness and the yellow and black inertia continues even after the break with the Argentine who overtakes (55-56 at 22'). Klanjscek is missing and so Fazzi takes the place of the Slovenian, and with Sanguinetti he signs the counter-break that is worth 76-67 to seal the excellent offensive third quarter of Andrea Costa. Vecchi plays the card of the light quintet to reply to Galetti's zone in a last quarter in which Zedda responds to the inevitable comeback of Virtus (82-76 at 32') that however is starting to feel tired.

Up takes advantage of this, plays fast and finds strength from the arc with Chiappelli and Toniato, the 90-82 at 36' brings the rivals to their knees.

Galetti's time-out doesn't change things, because Toniato's counterattacks and Sanguinetti's sidereal triples start the party of the red and white Ruggi. In the end, some attempted brawls inside the sports hall are contained by the police.