For Gesteco the objective on the eve of the match against Reale Mutua Torino was twofold: to continue the positive streak that began after the defeat in Rieti to remain tied to the league leaders Pesaro and then to redeem the burning defeat suffered in the championship opener at the Pala Gianni Asti, when the Piedmontese prevailed in the final stages of a match that seemed safe for Pillastrini’s boys.
The ducals hit both goals, turning the game around in the second half, after closing ten points down at halftime, inflicting a 42-22 partial on the guests with Lucio Redivo decisive to seal the match in the final stages and Deshawn Freeman dominant on both sides of the pitch.
The Ducale starting five is made up of Redivo, Marangon, Mastellari, Ferrari and Freeman, while coach Moretti responds with Schina, Severini, Togue, Allen and Bruttini for a start to the half that sees Cividale start well with Freeman on the shields, author of 6 consecutive points in the guest paint for the 8-5 at 6’45”. Cividale plays with greater fluidity than in Torino, successfully maneuvering the pick-rolls and maintaining the advantage for a long time which however he was always countered by the Piedmontese who, with a score of 4/5 from the arc, overturned the partial by closing Cividale ahead 22-24 at the first siren. Alessandro Ferrari’s excellent impact with 9 points and 4/5 from the field.
In the second quarter Pillastrini introduces Costi and Cesana but immediately has to give up to Freeman who commits the second foul; the start is characterized by great balance and many errors in attack, with Cividale failing some transitions due to excess confidence and the score reads 26-26 with 6’42” left before the long break. Teague, up until now a judgment from the arc, breaks the balance for 26-29 and Pillastrini calls a time-out to reorganize his team, giving up both Berti and Freeman; in this phase the hosts suffer from the Torino defense, while Reale Mutua he always makes good use of the shot from the arc and gets to +8 (26-34) at 3’23” after a free throw from Massone. A three-point play by Torino, after a turnover in attack by Mastellari, gives the guests +10 (30-40) and then Allen graces Gesteco from the line with a 0 on 2 two tenths from the break.
Cividale scored only 8 points in the second half, becoming confused in the construction of the offensive games with a 13 out of 40 from the field (2/12 from three) while Torino, thanks to the best percentages from beyond the arc (6/10) managed to build an important margin before returning to the locker room.
When the game restarted, a triple from Marangon and a basket from Redivo gave Gesteco momentum for 35-42 with 7’16” left and then a triple from Captain Rota kept the comeback alive with 5’50” (38-44). Freeman closes again to 40-44 in penetration but then the guests close ranks and maintain the margin with the scoreboard reading 42-47 at 2’54” after a free throw from two by Stazzonelli. A three-point play by Freeman brings the score -2 (45-47) and then again the American closes the score to 47-48 and Marangon in penetration completes the comeback giving the advantage to Gesteco (49-48). The penultimate the siren sounds with the score now 51-48 for the Ducali, who in the last possession did not take advantage of the possibility of further extending the 21-8 run with which they turned the tide of the match.
The last quarter opens with a triple by Marangon (54-48) and Cividale’s lead is still 6 points (56-50) at 7’16” after a nice basket by Cesana; coach Moretti calls a time-out but Freeman first blocks Bruttini, then on the reversal he scores the +8 (58-50) and Costi scores the +10 at 5’04” after another block by the American on the long run guest. Moretti calls his team back to the bench because his team can no longer find the way to the basket and the space to get back into the game is now narrower; Cividale reaches +12 (62-50), but then enters the bonus and Torino returns to 62-56, before a triple by Lucio Redivo at the 24-second mark re-establishes the distance (65-56) and places an important threat on the fate of the match. The Argentine puts the final word once again by serving Freeman the ball for 69-58 at 1’16” and then the triple for 72-60 which anticipates the 72-62 with which the match ends.
UEB Gesteco Cividale – Reale Mutua Torino 72-62 (22-24, 8-16, 21-8, 21-14)
UEB Gesteco Cividale: Deshawn Freeman 17 (8/13, 0/0), Lucio Redivo 14 (4/7, 2/7), Leonardo Marangon 12 (3/6, 2/5), Alessandro Ferrari 9 (3/6, 1/2), Eugenio Rota 7 (0/6, 1/4), Cosimo Costi 6 (1/3, 0/3), Luca Cesana 4 (2/4, 0/2), Martino Mastellari 3 (0/1, 1/2), Matteo Berti 0 (0/4, 0/0), Riccardo Gozo 0 (0/0, 0/1), Matteo Natali 0 (0/0, 0/0), Davide Pittioni 0 (0/0, 0/0)
Free throws: 9 / 9 – Rebounds: 39 15 + 24 (Deshawn Freeman, Cosimo Costi 8) – Assists: 9 (Lucio Redivo 4)
Reale Mutua Torino: Macio Teague 19 (5/8, 3/5), Robert Allen 12 (3/12, 1/2), Federico Massone 11 (4/8, 0/1), Marco Cusin 6 (3/6, 0/0), Matteo Schina 5 (1/1, 1/2), Umberto Stazzonelli 4 (1/2, 0/1), Giovanni Severini 3 (0/0, 1/2), Davide Bruttini 2 (1/5, 0/0), Lorenzo Tortu’ 0 (0/1, 0/2), Success Eruke 0 (0/0, 0/0)
Free throws: 8 / 13 – Rebounds: 33, 9 + 24 (Robert Allen 12) – Assists: 11 (Federico Massone 4)
Referees: Umberto Tallon from Bologna, Daniele Gai from Rome and Pasquale Pecorella from Trani (BT).
Attendance 2,742
Credits: Mattia D’Antoni
