Forlì failed to clear the PalaDozza ban after 45 minutes of the match. Two baskets from Gabriel decided the final for Bologna. A solid game was not enough for the red and whites, but the growth of coach Antimo Martino’s team is a very good sign for the rest of the championship.
In the balance of the first quarter, with Forlì always ahead from the start, with Pollone’s bomb, Del Chiaro’s baskets are especially visible, with ease under the basket. He made a 4-10 basket at 5’31”. The maximum advantage, however, did not last long, because the Bolognese were reactive and the first quarter ended at 17-18. The second quarter improved with overtaking and counter- overtaking. Gaspardo answered Battistini’s triple at 20-18 with a bomb at 20-21″, again from the arc, it was Tavernelli who sent in red and white over 22-24. In the last 3′ of the first half, Unieuro made a new mini-attack. From 6.75 Gaspardo and Perkovic hit the series. Then, at 2’30” the Croatian scored three free throws and at 51″, still with the clock stopped, Parravicini scored 34-37, before Pascolo’s final tap-in for 34-39 .
Returning to the field after a long break, Bologna reduced the score to 46-47. Unieuro responded with a triple from Perkovic that made it 46-50. Emilian fought back until the score was 50-51, but at 1’55” Magro went to the line and moved the score to 50-52. After Aradori’s 52 all, Captain Cinciarini shuffled the cards, stopping the clock, 3″ from the last mini-interval, hit 52-54. Harper opened the last quarter for Forlì by -score 52-56 from the spot, on suspension, to Panni. At 7’19” Tavernelli sent Panni to the line for 3 free throws and si Fortitudo overtakes 58-56. The hosts move the score again, with Battistini leading 60-56. It’s time for coach Martino Fantinelli on the line and the gap widened to 62-56. Romagna’s attack did not hurt and Mian’s triple further expanded the red and white deficit to 65-56. Forlì saw the reaction of 13-0 partial with Del Chiaro, from the bottom, and a triple from Parravicini, which allowed the red and white to shorten the lead to 65-61 with 3’41” from the siren. However, Bologna continued to attack, while Unieuro struggled. At 2’41” excellent ball movement by Forlì was rewarded with a triple by Parravicini for 67-64. Both teams are stuck. At 58″ Parravicini froze PalaDozza again with a bomb at 67 all and Caja called time. Back on the pitch, Freeman missed and Forlì went on the attack with an overtaking ball, but the blue and white USA defends strongly on Del Chiaro. However, Bologna fails to hit the winning basket twice in the sprint and we go to extra time.
Fortitudo then set the score in motion, with the clock stopped, along with Freeman. At 3’57” Perkovic answered with a suspension. Panni shot again at 2’56”, but Del Chiaro answered from below for 71 all. At 1’23 “Gabriel put a triple for +3 and the red and white staff stopped everything. When returning to the field, however, Forlì did not find any points and the game ended 76-71 after Gabriel’s basket.
ScoresheET
Fortitudo Bologna – Unieuro Forlì 76 – 71 d1ts (17-18; 17-21; 18-15; 15-13; 9-4)
Fortitudo Bologna: Fantinelli 10, Bolpin 6, Mian 8, Gabriel 14, Freeman 24, Aradori 4, Panni 5, Battistini 5, Giordano ne, Ferrucci Morandi and All.: Attilio Caja. Ass.: Carretto and Mazzalupi.
Unieuro Forlì: Parravicini 17, Harper 2, Pollone 3, Gaspardo 12, Del Chiaro 15, Tavernelli 4, Perkovic 11, Cinciarini 2, Pascolo 4, Magro 1. Coach: Antimo Martino. Ass.: Andrea Fabrizi and Paolo Ruggeri.