In a once again sold-out PalaTiziano, Virtus Roma 1960 played Game 1 of the Interregional Serie B final, defeating Loreto Pesaro with a score of 79-69. Another important success for the Capitoline team which remains undefeated within friendly walls (four wins out of four in the playoffs) and is now one step away from promotion to the National Serie B. Now all we need is a success in game 2 on Wednesday 5 June which will be played in Pesaro. With this victory, Tonolli’s team also guarantees itself, in the worst case scenario, of being able to return to the PalaTiziano in six days (it would be played on 8 June) again to play the decisive match 3. Therefore a Virtus Roma 1960 that continues to dream and ago with the push of its fans (even today there were around 3000 in attendance), who proved to be the sixth man on the pitch and helped the team find a key success in terms of the series. The Capitoline team once again demonstrates that it makes the difference at home, managing to command the match for large stretches with the exception of a slight decline in the second half of the second half, where Loreto’s 2-3 zone had put Virtus in difficulty Roma 1960 who had no longer been able to find outlets in the offensive phase. A team that again today demonstrated that it has character and does not fall apart in moments of difficulty, in fact after the bad second quarter, the third quarter began with a partial of 21-4 which completely broke the balance that reigned in the match. Now we will need to take inspiration from what worked in this match and repeat another perfect match in three days, trying to avoid the mistakes made in the playoff semi-final played in Pesaro, but against Bramante. For Virtus Roma 1960, 22 points came from Valentini and 19 from Whelan. On the other side there was a Loreto Pesaro who tried to play their cards, but it wasn’t enough. Now the Marche team finds itself with its back to the wall and will no longer be able to make mistakes if it still wants to seek promotion. After this (which is the first knockout in the playoffs) Loreto will now have to try to start again from what didn’t work, that is, a wrong attitude in the second half, with the team which totally collapsed in the defensive phase and was no longer able to hold up blow, with the partial of the third quarter being eloquent. For the guests, 16 points come from Broglia, 15 from Maruca
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In the first quarter the attacks started better, with the defenses struggling and so after three minutes Virtus Roma 1960 was ahead 5-4. The Roman team tries to escape, but Loreto Pesaro resists and is at -3 (17-14) three minutes from the end of the quarter. The match continues to flow on the tracks of balance and the home team ends the first half ahead 20-18. In the second quarter the balance continues to reign and so Tonolli’s team is +1 (24-23) after three minutes. Loreto raises the defensive intensity and thus manages to escape at +8 (28-36) three minutes before the break. The Roman team manages to reduce the gap and goes into halftime at -6 (35-41). In the third quarter Virtus Roma 1960 started even better, posting a 10-4 run and so the teams were tied at 45-45 after three minutes. Tonolli’s team doesn’t stop and continues to escape, flying to +11 (56-45) three minutes from the end of the period. Loreto Pesaro reacts by shortening the gap and closing the third quarter at -5 (61-56). In the fourth period Tonolli’s team remains in control of operations and is thus +7 (65-58) seven minutes from the final siren. Virtus Roma 1960 raises the defensive intensity and flies to +13 (74-61) three minutes from the end of the match. The Roman team controls the last minutes and triumphs 79-69.
In the image Gaston Whelan, photo Gennaro Masi
Valerio Laurenti
