In the last round of the clock phase, theSan Bernardo water beats Ravenna and at the “PalaBancoDesio” there is a beautiful, exciting evening that must certainly be kept in mind in view of the playoffs. In a splendid festive atmosphere due to the return to the Eagles’ arena, the historic organized supporters of Cantù, the team coached by coach Sodini obtains its twenty-third success in 30 regular season matches, thus preparing itself in the best possible way for the hottest phase of the ‘year.
Cantù-Ravenna, the race
After a two-week stop, coach Sodini recovers Allen, in the quintet from the first minute together with Bucarelli, Severini, Da Ros and Bayehe. OraSì responds with Berdini, owner in place of the injured Tilghman; Cinciarini, Benetti, Sullivan and the former Simioni complete the Ravenna starting five. Returning to Cantù, Stefanelli is missing from the twelve on the scoresheet due to a problem with a flexor.
Great balance at the start of the match: in the middle of the first quarter the two teams do not break free from parity; Sullivan’s 8 to 8 basket, Bayehe’s response 10 to 10. Then, to give sparkle to Acqua S.Bernardo we think a particularly perky Bryant who, from the bench, enters with the right face, scoring five points one in a row to the other. In the end it is Cusin and Nikolic who allow Cantù to stretch and find two possessions away from the siren at the end of the first quarter; 21-17 at 10 ‘. Fantastic start of captain Da Ros with 4 assists in just 8 minutes on the parquet.
It is a wise S.Bernardo Water that approaches the second fraction, good at relying on its veterans: after Da Ros it is the turn of Cusin, author of at least two great plays. Then, off to all the youth and freshness of the Bucarelli-Bryant duo: the first scores five consecutive points; the second, on the other hand, creates a powerful crush under the curve which automatically doubles the decibels of the whole PalaDesio. 33-19 at 23 ‘, time out Ravenna. Cantù flies, in all senses. Upon returning to the field after the short break, however, the music does not change and, with a triple, Nikolic even brings the gap between the two teams to fifteen. The former Simioni, a three-point specialist, shortens with two triples, giving new life to OraSì; however, the Brianza are good at closing the first half of the match anyway with fifteen points ahead and a certain degree of security in view of the second half. 46-31 at 20 ‘. Upon returning to the locker room the best scorer is Bucarelli, author of 12 points in 12 ‘; Da Ros’s assists are already 7.
In the third quarter Cantù regains +20 thanks to the energy of Bayehe and the increasingly convincing Bucarelli. The game, however, becomes nasty due to a pinch of tension too much, to benefit is Ravenna who, in the meantime, 3 ‘and a half from the end of the third quarter, manages to get back down by fifteen. Cinciarini and Sullivan are the last to drop out of the guest ranks. At this point, in defense Cantù rises in tone and, with Cusin in great shape, Ravenna is no longer able to score for many minutes; the guests, in fact, are released only 3 ” from the end of the third quarter with a free throw from Denegri. Cusin himself, in attack, flies away, causing the red-hot white-blue typhus to “explode” with a great dunk on the counterattack. 64-46 to 30, Acqua S.Bernardo in full control of the match.
The fourth and final period still sees Sullivan among the last to yield and OraSì thus returns to -13 from S.Bernardo. Cantù, however, does not stand by and, despite Gazzotti’s efforts, Allen returns to make the Brianza area fly ahead by fifteen points. It is the 73 to 58 basket for the hosts who, with less than four minutes to go, know so much of an early victory. Sullivan, however, always Sullivan, scores from under the basket of -11, forcing coach Sodini to stop the game to let his breath catch up. In the final, one minute from the end, Gazzotti shivers Cantù a bit with the goal of -7 but the biancoblù response is immediate thanks to Severini’s essential basket which, in fact, puts the game on ice. Ends 76-72; Bucarelli top scorer with 19 points, 8 assists by Da Ros. Cantù’s opponent in the playoffs will be Forlì (pallacanestrocantu.com).
Cantù-Ravenna, the match report
S.Bernardo Cantù-OraSì water Ravenna 76-72 (21-17, 25-14; 18-15, 12-26)
Cantù: Bryant 12, Nikolic 10, Boev, Borsani, Da Ros 2, Bucarelli 19, Cusin 6, Bayehe 7, Allen 15, Severini 5, Tarallo, Moscatelli, All. Sodini
Ravenna: Tilghman ne, Berdini 8, Martini, Cinciarini 10, Gazzotti 8, Laghi ne, Denegri 8, Giovannelli ne, Sullivan 15, Ciadini ne, Simioni 13, Benetti 9. All. Lotesoriere
Referees: Caforio, Perocco and Nuara.
