Game three ends 71-59 for Orlandina Basket. Ragusa gives in and the champions celebrate the promotion to the National B.
While the hosts celebrate, the guests are already thinking about restarting the series against Loreto Pesaro which will start next Wednesday at PalaPadua.
The Biancazzurri started off strong immediately with a 9-0 run. Jasaitis is unleashed and immediately scores 12 points out of his 16 total. But Ragusa doesn’t give up and remains in the competition with baskets from Gaetano, Cioppa, Sorrentino and Brown. Just a triple from the latter allows Virtus to close the first quarter ahead with a score of 16-18.
Then the Iblei stopped in attack and so the second quarter was dry for a good first half. The inertia of the match changes and Capo d’Orlando pushes on the accelerator and also takes advantage of an unsportsmanlike move from Brown on Palermo. Favali also takes advantage of possession and Ragusa understands that the game is definitely uphill. Jasaitis continues to score from distance. The extension is an important one and the paladins go into the long interval at 39-29.
However, Virtus Ragusa appears more determined at the beginning of the third quarter and scores a very good 0-8 run: Brown pushes hard and makes two triples, Vavoli takes advantage of an assist to Cioppa’s kiss and scores. The match is wide open again and coach Bolignano is forced to time out. On the return to the pitch, Palermo charges from distance, then Gatti scores and the gap returns to +10 in favor of the home team. This time it is Recupido who asks for a minute to catechise his children. At 26′ the scoreboard reads 52-42. Sorrentino and Gaetano try to keep the guests afloat, while Capo d’Orlando loses Jasaitis to injury. We go to the last break at 54-49.
At the start of the last quarter, Orlandina seems to be affected by the Lithuanian’s absence on the pitch, Ragusa comes forward and in the 34th minute it is 56-54. The guests also missed on two occasions with Simon the overtaking basket with as many shots from the arc. Then the paladins extend further to +8 and Ragusa can no longer find his way. Brown tries again to play the charge at 62-57, but it is Gatti who makes the decisive extension at +7 which then paves the way towards the final 71-59.
THE SCORESHEET
Capo d’Orlando-Virtus Ragusa 71-59
Capo d’Orlando: Agbortabi 2, Moltrasio, Mentonelli ne, Mascherpa 3, Favali 8, Palermo 10, Jasaitis 22, Marini 7, Caridà 6, Gatti 13. All.: Bolignano
Virtus Ragusa: Brown 22, Piscetta, Epifani, Cioppa 8, Simon 5, Tumino ne, Vavoli 10, Sorrentino 6, Gaetano 8, Mirabella ne, Calvi ne, Ianelli. All.: Recupido
Referees: Collura of Rome and Fornaro of Mentana
Partial: 16-18; 39-29; 54-49.
