Thata triple thrown at the siren by Ruben Douglas in the final of the 2005 basketball championship between Olimpia Milano and Fortitudo Bologna – which gave the second tricolor to the Emilian team – went down in history as the shot of the instant replay title. It was in Milan, in match 4 between Armani Jeans and Climamio.
The protagonist of that winning shot, confirmed by the “basketball slow motion” – the Californian naturalized Panamanian Ruben Douglas – is died at 44 years olda few days ago following a sudden illness in Costa Rica where he lived. The news was reported by Fortitudo Bologna, reached by a phone call from the United States from the player’s brother, Ramon Douglas.
«Thus passes away, at just 44 years of age, the protagonist of one of the most iconic moments in the history of Effe – writes the Emilian club – with that unforgettable three-point shot validated by the instant replay and which he delivered to Fortitudo, in June 2005, his second championship. AND if, on the field, the marriage between Ruben and Fortitudo lasted twelve months, the feeling with the Effe environment and with its people never stopped. Indeed, it has strengthened over the years, in which Ruben has always kept himself informed about the daily life of his/our Fortitudo which, one day, he would also like to coach.”
– The triple on the mermaid by Rube Douglas at the Forum (Ciamillo and Castoria)
Therefore, continues the Bologna team, «the whole large Fortitudo family is crying, shocked and heartbroken, the far too premature death of an unforgettable actor who was the protagonist of his story, uniting in a moving and very strong embrace with Ruben’s family. “Bologna wins, Bologna wins. Fortitudo wins, Fortitudo wins. It’s the scudetto, it’s L’Aquila’s scudetto.” Hello, Ruben – concludes Fortitudo – Forever in our hearts. Forever in our history.” Milan’s condolences also arrived immediately, which retraces the final and those last seconds to conclude with « Our condolences go to his family and to all of Fortitudo. RIP champion.” After Bologna Douglas played for Dinamo Moscow, Valencia, Virtus Roma, Seville, Panionios and ended his career in Turkey.
