Ragusa, 04/28/2024 – The beauty will decide who among the Passalacqua Ragusa and the Virtus Segafredo Bologna will challenge the reigning champions of Famila Wuber Schio in the semi-final playoffs scudetto.
Exactly like the one betweenAllianz Geas Sesto San Giovanni and the Molisana Magnolia Campobassoeven the match between the Bolognese and Ragusa teams remains a taboo for the host team (0 home victories between regular season, Italian cup And playoffs championship).
We expected, after game 1, the reaction and this type of performance from the team coach Pierre Vincent. It was clear after two minutes that things were bad for the owners of the house coach Flax Lardat 0-6, forced to call timeout (booked, and then cancelled, even in the previous action). It was known from the beginning that, presumably, the Virtus Segafredo Bolognaas a great defense, would not have conceded another 77 points to their opponents and it was also known that there was pressure on both teams (one at risk of elimination and the other with the ambition of completing the job and closing the series).
It was precisely the physicality, the closure of spaces by the Bianconere, in the right ways and at the right times, that canceled out Ragusa’s attack for the entire first period (and not only) which, if it hadn’t been for two triples from Ivana Jakubcovawould practically not have achieved.
In the second period there was a reaction, more of a nervous one, from the hosts. By Dante’s law of retaliation, the last three minutes of the first half (a Bologna it was a 17-0 home) were the most prolific for the Ragusan team, which closed on an encouraging -8 at half-time.
The third quarter was dominated by the Bolognese (again unlike game 1), who, if possible, beyond the very good spacing, the very good deliveries, the ball-in-ball-out game, tried to run even after a basket conceded. The margin has expanded, up to -29, in the last period. The last minutes were used to give more breathing space to some elements, especially among the guests (the “neutral” players, so to speak, had more space even at the same time. Neutral essentially means that they maintain, that they leave things more or less as they are and does not have a necessarily negative meaning).
If the two great Sicilian protagonists of game 1, Oderah Chidom And Laura Juskaitethey were a bit lacking (or were canceled by their opponents), the team of coach Pierre Vincentwho always arrived first on loose balls and long rebounds, brought five players to double figures, and not two like four days earlier, starting with the long starters.
Wednesday the Virtus Segafredo Bolognabeyond the trend or the law of large numbers, will start rather clearly favored, while the Passalacqua Ragusa she will return to being quite free of responsibility: she will have little to lose.
THE SCORESHEET: Passalacqua Ragusa – Virtus Segafredo Bologna 59-81
THOMAS Jasmine 4: he hadn’t played very well in the first match of the series either. Probably, given the continuing absence of Laura Spreafico, is also paying for excessive use and losing clarity. The injury of Ilaria Milazzo, a few months ago, gave it greater importance and now there is the downside. It’s too discontinuous over the 40 minutes.
PASTRELLO Silvia 6: the effort he put into it must be rewarded, as usual. “Never give up” is his mantra, even when giving up isn’t enough.
JUSKAITE Laura 4: he had spent too much in game 1 and in this case he did objectively badly, beyond a few flashes.
MICCOLI Maria 6.5: she was one of the best on the pitch among the Sicilians. Missing just one shot, she reached double figures.
CHIDOM Oderah 4: she never found the basket from the field, 0/6 from 2 points and 0/1 from 3, and even got blocked a couple of times by Lauren Cox.
MILAZZO Ilaria 7: he felt the match very much, so much so that he argued with some opponents at the beginning and protested to the referees. Then, she calmed down and grew up. She provided 6 assists and confirmed her usual ballistic abilities, maintaining the competitive spirit that distinguishes her.
JAKUBCOVA Ivana 7: “either by hook or by crook”, brought 16 points to the case. The fact that he did it more from the perimeter than from below is relatively important. Of course, with all those centimeters, near the iron you would expect more.
OF THE END Josephine 6.5: she found a nice triple (and not in the final), which is not to be taken for granted for a young girl who often “warms the bench”.
NIKOLIC Matea sv
PASA Francesca 6.5: It was a good metronome on the pitch, without special effects. The 5 assists were excellent and, in general, the good readings.
DOJKIC Ivana 7.5: confirmed that he is in great form. He didn’t preach in the desert, unlike Game 1.
ZANDALASINI Cecilia 7.5: she too, was not left alone like four days earlier. The 18 points were the result of great talent.
RUPERT Iliana 8: returning from a bad match, he showed his talent. The 5/7 from two points is also the result of the excellent team play and the good readings of the teammates.
COX Lauren 8: in contrast with race 1, he cancelled Oderah Chidom, even stopping it a couple of times. Triggered by her teammates, she consistently found her way to the basket.
PETERS Haley 7: as a classic all-round winger, coming off the bench, he did many useful and beautiful things to see on the pitch.
ORSILI Alessandra 7: it’s a peperino. He grabbed 3 offensive rebounds with agility and desire and in addition to the 5 points he gave some acceleration.
BARBERIS Beatrice 7: 5 points, without shooting errors, and 3 rebounds in less than 7 minutes of use should be rewarded.
DEL PERO Beatrice sv
CONSOLINI Chiara sv
ANDRÉ Olbis Futo sv
THE VOICES FROM THE FIELD (from Cristiano Garbin’s YT page):
Salvatore Lo Magno
edited by Fabiola Jenco
