Schio, October 1st –
1^ round of LBF regular season, Opening Day.
Passalacqua Ragusa vs Virtus Segafredo Bologna: 67-73.
(1Q 17-22; 2Q 30-38; 3Q 51-48;)
Passalacqua Ragusa: Thomas 16, Spreafico 20, Di Fine, Milazzo 4, Jakubcova, Pastrello 2, Juskaite 12, Miccoli 5, Chidom 8, Nikolic.
Virtus Segafredo Bologna: Del Pero 2, Pasa 8, Peters 12, Cox 3, Rupert 11, Barberis, Dojkic 2, Andrè 12, Zandalasini 18, Orsili, Consolini 5.
MATCH REPORT
Virtus Segafredo Bologna opens the season against Passalacqua Ragusa in the setting of the Palaromare in Schio, site of Opening Day 2023.
Andrè gets off to a strong start with 4 points on layups, Ragusa holds its own against the V Nere and is immediately very physical. Zandalasini finds room for two threes, Peters continues the good momentum from the 3-point line and the game is back to a tie at 15-15 after 7 minutes of play. Virtus manages to impose itself in the basket with Rupert’s first two points of the season just before the end of the first quarter, which ends on +5 for the bianconere (17-22).
The second quarter resumes with a Consolini layup after a recovery by Orsili. Spreafico shortens the gap with a triple, but the Black Vs answer with a jump shot by Rupert and a penetrating basket by Pasa for +4 (24-28) midway through the quarter. Zandalasini’s 3-pointer forced the Ragusa bench to call a time out, but Virtus continued its positive momentum with 2 points by Del Pero and a triple by Cox. At halftime the score is 30-38.
In the third quarter the defenses tighten up, Andrè scores the two points of the +10 but Ragusa’s percentages increase and it manages to recover the disadvantage. Peters unlocks the period with a jump shot for +7, then Pasa recovers a ball that forces the opposing bench to a time out. The third buzzer sounds on 51-48 for Ragusa.
Andrè opens the last ten minutes of the game with two points followed by a Rupert triple for the Virtus overtake. The match continues point-to-point with triples by Thomas and Spreafico, but Zandalasini finds very important three points after a technical to the opposing bench and a foul on a shot. Virtus defense contains the opponents well and the V Nere manage to complete the comeback, with 4′ to go the score is 58-65. Ragusa gets to -2, but Zandalasini’s two triples finally close the game, which ends with a score of 67-73 after two free throws by Pasa.
