Virtus Rome
79
Loreto Pesaro
69
VIRTUS: Petrucci 6, Whelan 19, Frisari ne, Casale 1, Valentini 22, Zoffoli 8, Pellegrinotti ne, Columbano ne, Giorgi 2, Rocchi 19, Giacomi, Fokou 2. Coach Tonolli.
ITALSERVICE LORETO PESARO: Rupil 2, Lovisotto 3, Cevolini ne, Battisti 6, Cipriani, Maruca 15, Tognacci 6, Broglia 16, Martinez 15, Casoni 6. Coach Foglietti.
Partials: 20-18, 15-23, 26-15, 18-13 Progressions: 20-18, 35-41, 61-56, 79-69.
Out for 5 fouls: Fokou (Roma); Casoni (Pesaro)
In a bedlam of 3600 people in the PalaTiziano, Loreto Pesaro lost game one of the interregional Serie B promotion final against Virtus at the end of an intense match. Right from the start: in the first quarter the balance (10-9) was broken by Rocchi who dragged Roma to +6 of 17-11 in the 7th minute. The comeback of the gialloblu is signed by Casoni on the counterattack (17-16) and Tognacci (19-18). A very intense period of play that ended 20-18. In the second half the game changes face. The protagonists are Marinez and Lovisotto. Italservice impacts (20-20) and then puts the arrow (20-23). At this point Whelan wakes up and keeps the premises afloat. But Rupil plays the charge. At 16′ Pesaro is 24-30. The attack is from Captain Broglia from the line. And with a partial score of 8-18 the Marches tried to take flight in the 18th minute at 29-36. We go into halftime with coach Foglietti’s men ahead by 6 (35-41).
In the second half, however, the Capitoline players, supported by a stadium crowd, found their way to the basket again and immediately closed the gap (40-41, at 22′). Maruca tries to defend the lead (40-43), but with a triple Virtus equalizes (43-43 in the 23rd minute). It’s always Rocchi who leads the way. The pace increases. And in the 27th minute the hosts are even at +9 (54-45). With a run of 21-4 the home Giallorossi attempted to escape (56-45). Broglia tries to mend the score (56-50 at 29′). Loreto comes closer with Martinez and closes the third half 61-56 with a partial of 26-15 for the Romans.
In the last period of the game in the 35th minute, Virtus is still at +9 (67-58). President Pizza’s team shoots aimlessly from distance. Petrucci doesn’t fail and is +11 (72-61 at 37′). With Whelan the Lazio team even reached +13. The Rossinians gave up, losing a bit of clarity in the last minutes. Nothing to do, in short, in the Roman basin. But the day after tomorrow at 9pm at PalaMegabox there is Garadue. An exodus of Virtussini fans is expected. But also the city of Pesaro will certainly respond in a big way to drag its favorites to the eventual beauty.
Beatrice Terenzi
