Serie A basketball: the results of the fourth day

The fourth day opens with a crazy match in Tortona, from which Bertram emerges victorious against Trapani (108-100). Fioretti’s team confirms its incredible offensive potential, enjoying 25 points from Vital and 22 from an amazing Baldasso in the final and author of an extraordinary 6/7 from the arc overall. The third Piedmontese success coincides with the first defeat in the championship of a never tamed Trapani, forced to surrender, despite 22 points from Allen as usual. Third victory also for Trento who, as a team, passes to Masnago (74-85), playing better in the final and condemning Varese to the third knockout in a row. 23 points from an excellent Librizzi were useless (here is the ranking).

TORTONA-TRAPANI 108-100

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At the Cittadella dello Sport, Tortona started better, limiting Trapani’s attack with an aggressive defense and the consequent transition. Fioretti’s men also benefited from a lightning start from Vital, who concluded the home team’s counterattacks (12 points in the 6th minute). The penetrations of Ford and Allen, generated above all by pick and rolls, keep the match in balance. The first escape belongs to Bertram, who takes advantage of Olejniczak’s low post, the baskets, from the arc and on the counterattack of an excellent Gorham, to reach the maximum advantage of the first 20′ (43-35 at 17′). Repesa’s men keep the ball too still, but with Alibegovic and Hurt from the arc they remain in contact, before a 4-point play by Rismaa keeps the Piedmontese at +8 (51-43 in the 19th minute). The Shark came out of the blocks better in the second half and came back with baskets from Ford, Hurt and above all Allen, who with a series of penetrations, triples and away baskets, sent the Sicilians ahead (60-62 at 25′). The match remains balanced even in the fourth period: Fioretti’s men are dangerous from the arc with Hubb, Baldasso and Chapman, attacking quickly, but Repesa’s men (Petruccelli, Eboua and Alibegovic above all) do badly on the counterattack and remain ahead (81-84 at 34′). From that moment on, however, Derthona scored the decisive break (9-0), thanks to the dynamism of Manjon and Vital and a triple from an amazing Baldasso (90-86 in the 37th minute). It is precisely the number 13 from Tortona who marks the match, with two other very heavy triples (96-88 in the 39th minute). The Sicilian comeback attempts, signed by Ford and Rossato prove useless, because Bertram completes the work with the low post of Olenjniczak and then from the line with Manjon and Vital.

Tortona: Vital 25, Baldasso 22, Gorham 14

Trapani: Allen 22, Alibegovic 17, Hurt 14

VARESE-TRENTO 74-85

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The match in Masnago sees two teams with similar playing philosophy face each other. They both want to run and hurt in transition. Varese started better, taking advantage of Trento’s inaccuracies in attack and thanks to an excellent pace combined with effective ball circulation, made 4/5 from 3 and immediately reached +11 (15-4 at 4′). Cancellieri’s team recovers thanks to offensive executions in transition and returns first with Jogela, then with Hassan Jones and Niang returns to -3 (20-17 at 9′). The game remains very fast and sees Librizzi light up in the second quarter, thanks to a series of triples (4/6 at 20′, 16 points in the first half). However, Dolomiti Energia is in the game and even overtakes, after a combination between Jogela and Jones (34-35 in the 17th minute). After the break, the guests started better, flying to +7 (40-47 at 23′), before Librizzi found parity at 25′ with a drive to the basket and a triple (49-49). The balance actually lasted until the 38th minute, thanks to numerous back and forth between Nkamhoua and Steward, from distance and close to the rim. At that moment the Trentino players take control of the match. After a block from Bayehe on Alviti, Jones scores a triple for +8 (70-78 in the 39th minute). The usual Librizzi and a tap in by Moore try to bring Openjobmetis closer together, but Steward condemns Kastritis’ men to a third consecutive knockout. Varese: Nkamhoua 24, Librizzi 23, Moore 12

Trento: Jones 18, Steward 17, Aldrige 16