At Dai Optical Virtus Basket Molfetta Game 1 of the first series of the promotion playoffs – MolfettaLive.it

Dai Optical Virtus Basket Molfetta wins Game 1 of the first series of the promotion playoffs.

At Pala Poli it ends 93-68 against the Campania team of Sala Consilina at the end of a hard-fought and balanced match in the first two quarters and in which the home team managed to take the lead starting from the third half of the match. It was the match in which we saw a good Georgi Sirakov, decisive in his three-point shots, and Mirko Gloria who has strongly improved in recent outings. Winning the first match at home, as said on the eve, was fundamental in view of Game 2 which the blue and white will play away on Sunday. After almost 20 days of stoppage, coach Carolillo’s men enter the field resolute and determined, avoiding the frivolities seen in the last two Play-in Gold matches. The race starts in perfect balance with the two teams studying and chasing each other. In the first quarter Marco Formica and then Andrea Calisi responded blow for blow to Sala Consilina’s attacks with a triple with a score that remained tied until 7-7. Then it was the Campania team who attempted the first escape, placing a +5 which was met with an immediate response from the blue and whites: first it was Stefanini who closed the gap, while Sirakov brought the game back to a draw by making two free throws. At the end of the half, Virtus takes the lead. He does it with Gloria who first scores the 17-15 and shortly after the 20-17, a result that closes the first quarter. However, the game remains in the balance even in the first minutes of the second quarter because Sala Consilina finds the equalizer at 22-22 and then a new lead of 5 points. Up front, however, there is a compact and reactive team that doesn’t allow itself to be surprised too much. Formica and Sirakov recover the deficit with two triples and allow Virtus to remain glued to their opponents. It is once again the Bulgarian who scores the three points which make it 36-36 and shortly after another two important points following a quick counterattack. The blue-and-whites lead the match 41-36 and two further points arrive on the Sirakov-Gloria axis which close the second quarter with the result 47-38. In the third quarter the blue and whites continue to grow, they immediately score with Stefanini and shortly after with captain Marco Formica, author of a triple that paves the way for Virtus. Point after point, Carolillo’s men reach a 20-point advantage over their opponents (60-40) and continue to keep Sala Consilina, whose reaction is feeble, at a distance. At the end of the quarter Mirko Gloria once again scores the goal which makes it 71-54. Virtus had the task of managing the result in the last ten minutes: they did it again with Gloria and Calisi at the start (both with three-point baskets) and in the final part of the match with Giorgini and Paglia. Sala Consilina down by 25 points surrenders to a Virtus team who played an excellent match which leads the playoff series well. It ends 93-68, but on Sunday 12 May there will be a repeat in Campania.

The target? Try to settle the score with Sala Consilina already in the second match. «Woe to considering the series already closed – was the response of captain Marco Formica – we must stay on track, focused and play as we played this match».