VIRTUS SEGAFREDO BOLOGNA 75–77 PASSALACQUA RAGUSA (15-19;41-31;51-51)
Virtus Segafredo Bologna: Del Pero ne, Pasa 2, Peters 5, Cox 2, Rupert 3, Barberis, Dojkic 26, Andrè 8, Zandalasini 27, Orsili 2, Consolini. All. Vincent.
Passalacqua Ragusa: Thomas 4, Di Fine ne, Milazzo 7, Salice ne, Jakubcova 13, Pastrello 3, Juskaite 26, Miccoli 7, Chidom 17, Nikolic. All. Lard.
The complete statistics
Race 1 is a whirlwind of emotions: Virtus starts well, loses, gets back together and breaks down. As Vincent predicted in the pre-match, this quarterfinal series proved to be a real battle. Ragusa wins thanks to a splendid match by its foreign teams, with Chidom and Juskaite on the shields. At Virtus, two sensational Dojkic and Zandalasini (53 combined points) are not enough, the Sicilians show more coolness in the final and deservedly win the first victory of the series.
The news of Virtus-Ragusa
OPENING QUINTETS
Virtus Segafredo Bologna: Pasa, Rupert, Dojkic, Andrè, Zandalasini.
Passalacqua Ragusa: Thomas, Juskaite, Pastrello, Chidom, Jakubcova.
First half
Segafredo responded promptly to Ragusa’s first two points, scoring with two bombs from Rupert and Dojkic, but Jakubcova allowed the Sicilians to stay in touch with 6 consecutive points. Midway through the quarter, the two teams are tied at 10-10. Dojkic invents a trick that is worth 2+1, Ragusa doesn’t fit and still with Chidom (already at 8 points) he remains at -1. The guest overtake came with Milazzo and Nikolic, with Virtus closing the first quarter with a few too many errors. End of the first quarter, 15-19 Ragusa.
Nikolic allows Ragusa to extend, but Peters manages to maintain contact with his first 2 points. It is once again the Lithuanian who gives her team the maximum advantage, 19-29 after 5 minutes of play. Virtus is dazed and without ideas: Zandalasini takes care of shaking the Bianconere with a bomb. Andrè gives a big hand in defense, Zandalasini continues to show off his attacking skills and the disadvantage is halved. Dojkic’s bomb forces Lino Lardo from the Ragusan bench to call a minute but the tune doesn’t change. The inertia passes into the hands of the black Vu and Pasa’s support on the counterattack makes it 31-31. Peters and Dojkic (already at 16 points) score the counter-overtaking which puts the scoreboard at 41-31 at the long break.
Second half
The return to the field was stingy with points: Ragusa, with patience, closed the deficit to -4, taking advantage above all of a good defense under the boards. Once again it is Zandalasini who pushes the green and whites back, led by a relentless Juskaite with 19 points to their credit. The pace and tone rise at the Segafredo Arena, with the match starting to become more physical than technical. Pastrello shoots the -1 from distance, Dojkic responds, but Thomas does well to exploit the last possession of the quarter to make it 51-51.
Unsportsmanlike for the Bianconere, who were overtaken by Thomas. Captain Zandalasini once again removes the chestnuts from the fire by sending a very heavy triple into the net, but it is still Chidom who keeps Ragusa on his shoulders. Back and forth between the two teams, both spirited and aggressive but without the ability to separate the other. Zanda sets the Segafredo Arena on fire with yet another triple (5/7), Andrè once again mocks the guest defense and Virtus manages to get their noses back. Balance reigns supreme in the last three rounds: Juskaite and Jakubcova punish again from 3, the response still comes from the best on the pitch, Zandalasini. Segafredo messes up a banal possession and allows Chidom, all alone, to make it 69-74. Foul on the Juventus captain’s 3-pointer, the liberos come in and there are still 37″ to play. Foul by the defense, Juskaite is precise from the line but Dojkic’s bomb is immediate, making it 75-76 with 6″ left until the siren. One out of two free throws for the Ragusan team, Dojkic attempts a disjointed shot in flight but the ball stops on the rim: game 1 belongs to the Ragusan team.
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