Game 1, after a game almost always in control, slipped from Ragusa’s hands at the end of regulation. Virtus no longer finds the way to the basket and Orlandina, re-emerging from -10, finds victory thanks to greater precision in free throws: it ends 67-60 in extra time, after a damned and partly unlucky afternoon, which delivers the first act of the final for the boys from Bolignano. The baskets of Jasaitis and Palermo were decisive. Brown’s 15 points and Vavoli’s 11 are not enough for Virtus. On Wednesday, however, it’s already time for game 2 at PalaPadua.
Virtus gets off to a great start: in the first five minutes they concede just two points to Capo d’Orlando, who has very cold hands from distance. Ragusa attacks with conviction, Cioppa scores the first triple at the end of the 24″, Gaetano and Vavoli finish near the rim (and are very present on the rebound). The arrival on the pitch of Sorrentino, absent for a month, corresponds to a work of defensive art – the breakthrough suffered by Mascherpa – and two phenomenal three-point baskets. Simon’s penetration on the left side earned the maximum advantage at the end of the first quarter: 7-23. Virtus flies up to +18 with Vavoli’s triple, unstoppable. Jasaitis joins the match and Capo d’Orlando begins to enter the area with more insistence: 6-0 score. Brown takes care of closing it out: basket plus foul for the guest’s score 16-31. Infodrive’s defensive pressure throws Virtus into confusion and they lose the thread and are forced to force solutions at the end of the action. On the other side, Favali gets going, giving the home team a single-digit deficit: in the 20th minute Ragusa leads but by just eight points (26-34).
Virtus enters the third quarter with a good attitude, but Brown’s five consecutive points, which are worth the new +11, are not enough to remove the threat. Gaetano’s third foul limits Ragusa’s offensive solutions, Jasaitis and Palermo score from the perimeter and the game is completely reopened: 36-39 in the 27th minute. Epifani and Ianelli (who took advantage of an unsportsmanlike move by Marini to score four points in a row) allowed the guests to keep their lead, even if Favali, already in double figures, closed the game to 43-47 (in the 30th minute). Agbortabi digs his hands into the basket for -2, then it becomes an evening of passion. Virtus repels Capo’s attack with a triple from Ianelli and another from Simon, which will remain the last field goal for many minutes: 47-55. Infodrive gets two possessions away, but is unable to get closer, thanks to the defensive resistance of the Ragusa players. Gaetano remains on the parquet despite the 4 fouls against him. There are a lot of turnovers and the tension is sky high. Vavoli unlocks the game with the goal 49-57 with just over three minutes left. Two more pass, or almost, for Gaetano’s basket: +10 Virtus. It seems done but it’s not. Palermo scores from three points, but it is the unsportsmanlike play against Brown that is extremely damaging: Caridà makes 2/2 on free throws and Jasaitis scores a triple on the next possession: 57-59. Ragusa wasted in attack and Marini made a sensational impact 14″ from the end. Brown’s last triple misses the rim.
Capo d’Orlando’s first advantage of the evening arrived with 3’45” left in extra time and was scored by Palermo. Virtus loses its way to the basket: at the end of overtime it will have scored just one point, but it will miss so many free throws that it is unable to stay connected. The coach in Recupido writes the final word on a cursed match: Orlandina leading 1-0 in the series, meeting on Wednesday at PalaPadua for match 2.
“It was a great match for almost 39′ – says coach Recupido – unfortunately in the last minute and a half we made two reckless moves both in attack and defence, making mistakes that hadn’t been seen since the first match of the championship. It’s unfortunate because we were good at taking the game where we wanted, unfortunately it didn’t go well. However – analyzes Recupido – we have shown that we can compete at their home, with great tactical preparation and excellent physical and mental self-sacrifice. Now we hope to win game 2 and come back to play here next Sunday.”
THE SCORESHEET
Infodrive Capo d’Orlando-Virtus Ragusa 67-60 d1ts
Infodrive Capo d’Orlando: Agbortabi 4, Moltrasio 4, Mentonelli ne, Mascherpa 6, Favali 10, Palermo 13, Jasaitis 13, Marini 8, Caridà 5, Gatti 4. All.: Bolignano
Virtus Ragusa: Brown 15, Piscetta, Epifani 4, Cioppa 3, Simon 5, Tumino ne, Vavoli 11, Sorrentino 6, Gaetano 9, Mirabella ne, Calvi ne, Ianelli 7. All.: Recupido
Referees: Santonastaso from Maddaloni and Del Gaudio from Massa di Somma
Partial: 7-23; 26-34; 43-47; 59-59.
