Basketball, Serie B: Jackson leads La T Gema who now plays for A2. Quarrata miracle: a movie-like salvation
Coach Marco Andreazza’s rossoblù will face Virtus Roma in the final, who defeated San Vendemiano in the semifinals
MONTECATINI. La T Gema achieves another feat and flies for the first time in its history to the promotion final, where it will face Virtus Roma. To get there, they had to beat a never-say-die Treviglio in a fiercely contested game 5 (72-64), decided by the player who arrived in September precisely to win these matches.
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Jackson MVP
Josh Jackson took his exhausted teammates by the hand and in the last quarter scored all the most important baskets, those that dug the decisive gap in the game and ignited a boiling PalaTerme (in every sense). A deserved victory for the rossoblù but Treviglio leaves with heads held high, after giving life to a beautiful series, playing splendid basketball especially in game 3, but tonight they felt the knockout blows from the rossoblù American. The start gives hope for La T Gema, Jackson and Bargnesi draw the 12-2 that seems the prelude to a game similar to game 4. But it is not so, Treviglio came to fight and thanks to the zone defense ruins the home team’s plans, who start to miss and lose balls. Gradually Agostini and Rossi close the gap and the usual Morina ties at 24, and here another game begins, with Tav ready to take the lead thanks to Restelli and a lively Zanetti, who battles with all the rossoblù big men. A three-point play by Acunzo sends La T Gema to halftime down by 4 (33-37), but in the third quarter Andreazza’s team shows a completely different face, missing some open shots but ready to take control of the game. Bedin works well under the basket, D’Alessandro hits a couple of crucial triples, but then comes Jackson’s moment. The Maltese American freezes the ball, beats all defenders on his heels and scores the baskets that open the doors to the final. Pure class baskets, some at the 24″ buzzer, that wear down Treviglio’s resistance which tries with Rossi to stay close, but must give way to the Palaterme celebration, ecstatic for the victory. La T Gema is in the final with Virtus Roma, game one will be played Monday June 8 at PalaTiziano, 4 teams remain (Vigevano-Caserta the other final) competing for three spots in Serie A.
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The Quarrata feat
Quarrata miracle. Tonfoni’s five completely overturn the playout final against Novipiù and complete the comeback at PalaEnergica: after the two games won at PalaCarrara that had tied the series, the decider rewards the furniture makers who with an all-heart performance seal the victory and celebrate an unexpected salvation. From the locals’ initial 6-4 after 2’30″ Quarrata begins to weave its comeback. Leading the charge is Tiberti who at 6’36″ signs the maximum Pistoia lead (16-9). Monferrato tries to close the gap from the free throw line, but with thirty seconds left in the first quarter Tiberti’s three-pointer sends Quarrata into the second quarter up by 6. Early in the second quarter a 5-0 run by the home team brings Monferrato within one. Two triples by Riupil and Fiusco allow the home five to maintain the margin, but Prenga tries to put everything in question. Martinoni and Zanzottera are very precise at the free throws and a shot from the area by Casale’s captain sends the game to halftime with the home team ahead by one point. Within three minutes Zanzottera and company put together an 8-0 run forcing coach Tonfoni to call his players to the bench (47-38). On returning to the court Mongelli breaks Quarrata’s scoring drought. Once again the furniture makers patiently close the gap and with Novori from the free throw line tie the game (51-51) at 2’20″ from the end. Mongelli from beyond the arc early in the fourth quarter puts Quarrata up by 6, it’s a three-point festival with both teams trading shots: captain Regoli signs 57-63, but Martinoni brings Novipiù back to 65-63 with Quarrata calling timeout. Thrilling end of the game, Quarrata must watch the fouls but Regoli’s three-pointer with forty-six seconds left weighs heavily (68-70). Coach Corbani calls timeout, but Dany basket takes two possessions advantage thanks to Molteni’s two free throws that ultimately decide the match. Quarrata in paradise after a performance (and a series) nothing short of fantastic.
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