Heart, sacrifice, a lot of determination and that final thrill of the last moments of the final quarter. This is how the DAI Optical Virtus Basket Molfetta Pala Pentimele wins by beating the Viola Basketball Reggio Calabria 71-74. A very important victory (the first away in these Gold Play-ins) which brings the coaching team closer Carolillo to the promotion playoffs. In one of the most important arenas in southern Italy, Virtus once again shows off a team performance, taking some risks only in the final phase of the match. We were faced with a tough opponent who tried in every way to worry the captain Ant and teammates starting from the first quarter. In the first 10 minutes of the game it was the balance between the two teams that dominated the quarter with overtaking and counter-overtaking. They respond to Bellinelli’s initial triple for Viola Stefanini and Formica for a result that went from 6-6 to 12-12 halfway through the first quarter. These are hard-fought moments during which the two teams study each other and face each other head-on. Formica, after finding the equalizer at 15-15, gave his team the lead by scoring 6 points in just under 2 minutes. And this is how DAI Optical tries to take control of the game by finding with Glorymasterfully served by Sirakovthe points of 18-22 which close the first quarter. With their heads down, Virtus continues to attack in the second quarter and with Formica, Sirakov and Aramburu he moves 14 points ahead of his opponents. However, Reggio Calabria is alive and keeps the match totally in the balance: it closes the gap to 27-34, but is imprecise under the basket. However, Sirakov and I are not Stefanini which send the blue and whites to rest along the result of 32-40. The objective of the third quarter is to control the match, keeping Viola at a distance. Initially Carolillo’s men succeed with Calisi and Stefanini first and with Aramburu afterwards, capable of finalizing a choral action. Just under 6 minutes from the end of the quarter, Stefanini scores a triple to make it 34-51, triggering, however, the reaction of the home team who wake up, attack and close the gap to -10. Virtus fails to take off and Reggio Calabria, minute after minute, nibbles away at important points, reducing the deficit to 9 points and trying to go all out in the last ten minutes. The third quarter ends with the result of 52-61 for Virtus which drops dramatically and allows the opponents to get back into the game. The last quarter was thrilling for the blue and white fans who flocked to the Pala Pentemele and for those connected via streaming. As happened in the first leg, Reggio Calabria intensifies the attacks, reducing the gap to -5, forcing Virtus to score only 2 and a half minutes into the quarter with Glory. The three precious points scored by Sirakov and those by should be noted in the news notebook Hay which finalizes a choral and articulated action. At 64-70, Viola raises the percentage of three-pointers, scares Virtus, bringing them just one point away. The blue and white did not give up and after the time out called by Carolillo they closed ranks, did not allow the hosts to complete the comeback and after the two free throws made by Stefanini they took the match home, closing it on the result of 71-74. Hard-fought match with a victory that allows Virtus to remain first in the standings at this stage of the tournament. «We knew we had to fight against a lady team – was the coach’s comment at the end of the match Carolillo – just as we knew that the best Virtus would be needed here at Pala Pentemele. It was a difficult week physically, crowned by two victories. After Capo d’Orlando we only managed to do one training session, but this team held firm, taking risks only at the end. Now let’s seize the rest provided by these Easter holidays, knowing full well that we still need one victory to have the mathematical certainty of qualifying for the playoffs.” And therefore Virtus Basket Molfetta will return to the field Sunday 7 April at Pala Poli at 8pm to challenge Council Hall.
Thursday 28 March 2024
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