It’s no longer a coincidence, it’s becoming a decidedly indigestible habit. After Trento and Tenerife, Tortona also becomes the scene of the same, identical script: Pallacanestro Trieste throws itself away, throwing away a match that it seemed to have already put in the safe.
A dominated first half, a reassuring 47-62 start to the third quarter. It seemed like a game in control, it was the one of collapse. From that moment on, the parquet turned into a nightmare with the face and very warm hands of Prentiss Hubb.
The American put his signature to a monstrous 37-point performance, leading Bertram in a terrifying partial of 39-24 that literally turned the match on its head. Tortona ended the third quarter ahead 80-79, taking advantage of an inertia that had now become unstoppable and then closing on a deserved 104-99.
For Trieste a leitmotif that is becoming cloying: the team is unable to play 40 minutes at the same level. If this intermittent basketball may be enough to regulate teams like Cantù or Treviso, when the bar is raised and the level of competition rises, the limits of mental and physical endurance forcefully emerge. Another missed opportunity, another ending to forget.
Bertram Tortona dictates the initial pace. Thanks to the play of Manjon and Vital and Gorham’s precision from the arc, the home team attempted to extend the lead, taking a 7-2 lead after the first 3′ of the game. Trieste’s reaction with Ross and Uthoff who mend the gap until the equalizer scored from the line by Ramsey. Coach Gonzalez decides to shuffle the cards to increase physicality, bringing in Toscano-Anderson and Brooks instead of Ramsey and Uthoff. While Olejniczak momentarily brings Tortona back ahead, it is the Brown-Toscano Anderson axis that gives the red and whites the first advantage, who extend their lead and reach their maximum lead at 13-20.
At the end of the half, Tortona reacted with another triple from Gorham, a free throw from Biligha and a penetration from Baldasso which brought the Piedmontese back to just one point away. Toscano-Anderson’s bomb closes the first set at 19-23.
The match comes to life thanks to the bursts of Ramsey and Deangeli, the absolute protagonists of Giulia’s decisive attack. Jahmi’us takes over the reins of the attack: with seven consecutive points, he drags his team to 24-32, forcing coach Fioretti to immediately stop the match. Upon returning to the field, however, the music does not change: Deangeli continues to push and scores the 30-39. With Bertram visibly in difficulty, Trieste smells blood and tries to close it down. Uthoff and Toscano-Anderson dig a very heavy furrow from the arc, giving the guests the maximum advantage, 32-47. Tortona doesn’t raise the white flag, Vital’s bomb, Strautins’ basket and another triple from Arturs make it 8-0. Time out Gonzalez, red and white final with Brooks and Brown who start pushing again bringing Trieste to the locker rooms at 41-55.
Very high percentages at the start of the recovery. Trieste responds blow for blow up to 47-62 then suffers a 9-2 by Gorham and Vital which brings Bertram back to 56-64. Time out that doesn’t put out the fire of the hosts who continue to push and gnaw point after point. From 60-71, a 9-0 break closed by triples from Vital and Hubb for 69-71, an unstoppable Hubb again creates the partial that allows Tortona to close the quarter at 39-24 and overtake at 80-79 with which the third partial ends.
Another incredible Hubb, 31 points, for the 86-83 Bertram. Back and forth until Vital scores 90-88 with 6′ to go. Tortona extends to 102-92, Uthoff’s triple shortens the lead to 102-99 with one minute to go, then Gorham’s free throws secure the final 104-99 which allows Trieste to at least maintain the difference in goals.
