Orlandina first dominates Molfetta, then takes risks. It is seeded in the playoffs

Crazy race at PalaInfodrive at the end of Play-in Gold. AtOrlandina three triples are needed in the last two minutes, made by their silent leader Simas Jasaitis to achieve the goal of first place and ensure home advantage in the playoffs starting on May 8th. After having accumulated a lead of 21 points during the second quarter, the paladins saw Molfetta come back to -1 three minutes from the end but then closed the match with a break of 15-5.

The Apulian team reacted in the second half, confirmed that they were competitive but paid their price in the scorching final decided by the hand of the Lithuanian, assisted by the monumental Cats (26 points) e Palermo (21 points with 11 assists). They immediately started 5-0 with a triple Moltrasio, penetration up to the iron Palermo (10-4 after 3′) and a “bomb” by Cats: 13-4 at 6′ and Orlandina dominates the field. Gatti’s second bomb goes further (20-8) and the winger’s third triple inflames the large crowd present (25-8). Molfetta launches the former Torrenova big man Glory (in Piazza Armerina in the first part of the season), which comes with a dunk (he will be a factor with 19 points).

But a great Palermo dictates rhythms and patterns and a monumental Gatti (14 points in the period) scores his fourth personal triple (32-13 with 1′ left) and at the first siren Orlandina’s show of strength impresses (34-15). The second quarter has the same script with the point guard Mentonelli in dusting: two penetrations up to the rim for maximum advantage (40-17), Carolillo raises the quintet with two “towers” ​​(Gloria e Aramburu) and the Apulians recover slowly (41-25 at mid-period). Caridà scores his first bomb (46-25). The pace couldn’t have been the same as the first 10′ but a triple from Leo Marini was useful to keep the distance and at the long break Infodrive was in control: 53-34 with a placed by Gatti.

We start again and Molfetta’s attitude is completely different both in attack and defense: three triples (two Aramburu and Calisi) bring the gap under double figures (57-48 at 6’42”, break 4-14) with an immediate time-out spent by Bolignano. Two triples by Palermo and Gatti relaunch Orlandina (65-53 with 3’20”), an unsportsmanlike foul by Gatti but Aramburu scores 0/2 from the line and the quarter ends with a triple from the corner by Sirakov who, in front of the sensational away side (17-29 the partial), scores the minus 7, 70-63.

In the last quarter Molfetta gets closer (70-67) and at 5’52” overtakes the paladins with a triple Calisi (75-76). In the last three minutes, however, the champion Jasaitis comes out and scores three triples in less than 2′ which unleash the crowd and bring Orlandina to 92-83 before the final celebration. In the playoffs that will start on May 8th, in the quarter-finals with the best of three matches, I will meet against the Basketball School Messina coached by Pippo Sidoti.

Orlandina-Molfetta 92-83
Partials: 34-15; 19-19; 17-29; 22-20.
Orlandina: Agbortabi 6, Moltrasio 3, Mentonelli 5, Favali 1, Palermo 21, Jasaitis 17, L. Marini 6, D. Marini, Caridà 7, Gatti 26. All: Bolignano.
Molfetta: Formica, Giorgini 3, Gloria 19, Calisi 21, Stefanini 6, Aramburu 18, Paglia 9, Annese ne, Mezzina ne, Sirakov 7. All: Carolillo.