The defeat against Dinamo Brindisi 67-79, combined with the simultaneous victory of Mola a Rende, marks the relegation of Fortitudo Messina who say goodbye to the inter-regional Serie B after just one year of staying. An edgy match that took place at the Polivalente dell’Annunziata, with Fortitudo starting well, closing the first quarter with the lead, but then suffering the decisive break in the second partial, paying for the tough Brindisini defense and the low shooting percentages (just 18 % from three with 33 attempts). Double double for Mollica (21 points and 10 rebounds) and Kader (11 points and 11 rebounds). Marinelli and Tagliano also in double figures.
First fortitudino quintet with Molonia, Mollica, Cavalieri, Nnabuife and Tagliano. After two minutes with the score at 0-0, Mollica scores the first seven points of the match, to which is added Fernandez Lang’s Apulian basket. Staselis scores four points in a row and closes the gap (7-6 at 5’33”). and, while Fortitudo’s percentages get dirty (1/8 from three), Dinamo overtakes them with Musa and Fernandez (7-10). Coach Cavalieri sends Kader and Marinelli onto the field for Molonia and Cavalieri, but the home attack stalls and Brindisi completes the 0-11 run, taking the lead to 7-13 with Brunetti’s three-point play at 4’03”. Scozzaro is also inside and Tagliano is released with five points which are worth 12-13. Mollica’s second triple of the evening arrives, with the 15-15 nailed by a super block from Kader. Brindisi finds the +4, but is pushed back by Mollica’s dunk (12 in the quarter) and by Kader’s equalizer at 19. Fortitudo forced to give up Simone Cavalieri due to a strong blow to the back on the support of the basket and, after the 2 /2 by Staselis, the quarter is closed by a magic three by Marinelli at the siren for 22-21.
Balance that continues until 27-27 at 6’56” from the long break, with a great Filipovic for Brindisi and baskets by Kader and Marinelli for Fortitudo. The Apulians extend to 27-34 with the verticality of Musa and the incursions of the usual Filipovic. Partial score of 5-12 interrupted by Tagliano’s bomb to which Fernandez Lang responds and Brindisi escapes at 33-42. Fortitudo returns to -6 with five consecutive points from Kader, but the first half ends with a questionable decision by referee Mameli: Mollica blocks Pucci, but, after a long discussion between the two referees, a basket is awarded good for irregular interference (36-44).
Fortitudo’s approach to the third quarter was excellent with Tagliano and five points from Mollica which made it 43-44 with 7’31” left. The first triple of Staselis’ set arrives, Mollica scores again (19 for him so far), but Brindisi gets back to +6 with Musa’s baskets and with Fortitudo forced to give up first to Marinelli and then to Kader for three fouls. Nnabuife enters the scorers’ register, but Dinamo goes +10 (50-60) with another triple from the unmarkable Staselis. From the line Cavalieri makes 3/4 (in an evening with zero field goals) and, with Brunetti on the opposite side, closes the quarter at 55-65
Fortitudo will no longer be able to get back into the running, despite Nnabuife’s immediate three points at the start of the last set (58-65). Basket by Musa, then comes the unsportsmanlike shot by Brunetti on Kader and a 2/2 by Mollica from the line (61-71). Staselis’ triple off one leg at the siren virtually closes the score, with Brindisi now permanently holding a double-digit lead, defending aggressively on every offensive attempt by the locals. Nnabuife and Scozzaro score, but the game definitively hangs in the Apulian side with Filipovic placing +15 (64-79). Kader from the line and Marinelli in penetration will end the match bitterly at 67-79.
Fortitudo Messina-Dinamo Brindisi 67-79
(22-21, 36-44, 55-65, 67-79)
Fortitudo Messina: Mento, Marinelli 10, Di Mauro, Cavalieri 3, Caporossi, Scozzaro 3, Mollica 21, Giovani, Molonia, Kader 11, Tagliano 10. All. C. Cavalieri.
Dinamo Brindisi: Greco, Staselis 21, Epifani, Musa 18, Filipovic 14, Pulli, Paciullo, Mongelli, Brunetti 11, Mazzeo, Fernandez Lang 12, Pucci 3.
Referees: Francesco Giunta from Ragusa and Federico Mameli from Augusta
