Dinamo Sassari beats Tortona 84-83 and goes to the Super Cup final
The triple from Bendzius was decisive and then the defenses of Kruslin and Onuaku
Bendzius (photo Andra Chiaramida)
Balanced and beautiful the first semifinal of the Super Cup played in Brescia . Banco wins with Bendzius' triple (23 points) and then Kruslin's defense and Onuaku's block on Christon (25 points): 84-83 .
The Sassari team had to do without three players: the wing Treier, the winger Devecchi and the guard Chessa, while the Piedmontese team was without Macura and Tavernelli.
It is the third final in the Super Cup for Sassari, which the previous two have won : in 2014 against Milan and in 2019 against Venice.
Robinson's 18 points and Kruslin's 10 points with 5 rebounds are also worth noting.
CHRONICLE - Basic quintet with Robinson, Kruslin, Jones, Bendzius and Onuaku. Great balance. The two play Robinson and Christon build for themselves and their teammates. Great balance in the first quarter, despite the 11 points of the Daum alapivot (10-13). It is Radosevic's triple that gives Tortona +4, while coach Bucchi has changed the whole quintet, even putting Gandini as “4” given the absence of Treier. Dowe promotes the recovery, Kruslin's stolen and triple brings Sassari back forward: 29-26 at 15 '.
However, Banco grants too many offensive rebounds to opponents (7) and with Christon Derthona manages to have the first real advantage: 35-42 in the 18 '. Bendzius does not throw three but hits anyway and brings the biancoblù back to -1. The draw before the break is obtained by Onuaku with a free two-handed hit from below: 44-44.
Upon returning, Christon scores two triples, Jones commits a fourth foul and Gentile plays as a small forward. Robinson pushes, Bendzius uses class and intelligence to grab Tortona again: 58-58 at 28 '.
The balance remains until the end. Bucchi plays with Robinson and Dowe together and the newcomer places a terrifying dunk on the counterattack. In the end the fatigue emerges and on both sides there are trivial errors. Like Onuaku who on the +2 obtained by Bendzius' triple in just over a minute fires a shot from 4 meters without rebound. So Tortona ties and goes to +2 with two free from Harper 15 ”from the end. Bendzius scores from three but there are 11 seconds left, Kruslin defends well on Christon's entry, but still the ball in Tortona with 3 seconds. Christon tries again but Onuaku stops him and delivers the victory to Sassari.
