L’Now Yes Ravenna ends his extraordinary season with the applause of PalaCattani, with the narrow defeat in game 3 of the playoff semifinal against Cantù (58-59).
A low-score match that Ravenna had put back on its feet with heart and generosity, right up to the last excited moments that rewarded the greatest experience and depth of the Canturino roster. The nearly two thousand spectators of the PalaCattani offered a colorful and beautiful setting, worthy of a great challenge.
The transfer to Faenza for the second part of the season, if on the one hand it consolidated the affection of an audience that grew in numbers together with the team’s results, on the other it allowed to create new synergies with the territory, with the presence of various sports clubs in constant dialogue with basketball: from women’s football to volleyball, up to Atletica Ravenna present in race 3 with some athletes and instructors together with the girls of Eudora basketball, a project that promotes and enhances women’s basketball in Ravenna and neighboring areas, thanks to the involvement of the companies Junior Basket Ravenna, Basket Club Russi, Basket Lugo and Capra Team Ravenna.
There were also numerous special guests who attended the show on the pitch, from Charlie Recalcati a Pietro Bascianopresident of the National Basketball League, up to the president of the provincial Coni Samuel Gasperoni as well as many coaches and professionals of the A2 series.
Before the duo, the president of the Ravenna Nel Cuore Club, Daniela Venturihe rewarded Daniele Cinciarini for the thousand points scored in the Giallorossi jersey, which was followed by the MVP award a Davide Denegri delivered by the sponsor De Stefani, Mercedes Benz dealership for Ravenna and the province. All under the eyes of president Vianello, who on the sidelines hoped until the end in the umpteenth enterprise of this wonderful team.
The match
OraSì on the pitch with Tilghman, Denegri, Cinciarini, Sullivan, Simioni. Cantù with Allen, Severini, Da Ros, Bryant, Bayehe. The start is of a clear yellow and red matrix with Simioni and Denegri signing the 8-2, Cantù’s response comes with the baskets of Bryant and Bayehe from below for the 13-14 with which the first quarter ends.
OraSì returns without USA and Berdini with a triple signing the new Ravenna advantage (18-15). The defensive aggression of the guests produces two recoveries that launch Nikolic for the new overtaking, 18-21, Lotesoriere timeout. Cantù tries to control the game and goes to +7, Tilghman becomes the man of the moment, he unlocks and unlocks the attack of Ravenna after a few minutes of tarnish, putting ten consecutive ones for a draw at 29. The imperious crushed by the Zack Bryant’s dribble sets the score on 29-31 at the long interval.
Allen coming out of the blocks for the new +7 Cantù. Ravenna tries, with patience, to raise the intensity and build reasoned shots and here is the triple from Captain Cinciarini (32-36). From below Cantù continues to strike, Simioni from the arch and Cinciarini from the lunette keep the contest alive (37-40). Infallible guests and still at +7, Ravenna does not derail and thanks to a couple of defenses with a big heart, he comes back under with Cinciarini (41-44). At the moment of maximum effort, the third foul is whistled against the Giallorossi captain, who leaves the field in the last minute of the fourth, which ends on 43-48.
The fourth set immediately sees Vitali’s basket to which Berdini responds, who finds four points against the defense deployed. Ravenna still slips to -7, but proudly finds the strength to recover. The score remains pinned for over three minutes at 47-52 then at half time Cinciarini’s triple blows up the PalaCattani, -2 Ravenna. Another steal and a super Berdini attacked Allen, winning two fundamental free throws for the tie 52-52 with 3’30 “from the end. PalaCattani is now a bedlam, Cantù is still wrong, Tilghman no, from the bow for the Giallorossi overtaking (55-52). Allen makes 1/2 and moves the score for the guests after eight minutes of fasting, then draws from the average (55-55 with 2 ‘from the end). Cinciarini puts a free throw for the new OraSì advantage, which becomes a full possession with the great play of Tilghman, 58-55, Sodini timeout one minute from the end. Cantù still relies on Allen who goes in for -1. An unsportsmanlike by Cusin on Cinciarini after the captain’s foul makes the final even more incandescent. 1/2 for Cusin, 0/2 for the captain, Ravenna throw-in, triple on the iron.
Last action for Cantù, Allen manages the possession and is fouled 7 seconds from the end. Just a free hit to decide the game, Ravenna in the final frenzy does not find the winning hole. Finish 58-59 for Cantù who ends the series 3-0 and goes to the playoff final. Only applause for an OraSì who fought evenly until the fortieth minute of the last race of an unforgettable season.
Coach’s comment Alessandro Lotesoriere: “The curtain falls on a fantastic season. Tonight I want to thank all the people, players and staff, whose names are written on the printed jersey for the playoffs and that our fans have bought en masse. I think it’s the best memory of this year, because each of these people gave something to make sure we were here tonight to enjoy such a show. Starting with president Vianello who gave another season with his sacrifices and his passion, together with Giorgio Bottaro: without them we would not be here to tell of having reached a playoff semifinal.
And then all the others, starting from the technical staff, Mauro Zambelli and Roberto Villani, who have always supported and advised me in my first year as head coach and with whom a special relationship was born within a large family, and then all the medical staff, from the trainer Lorenzo Spadoni to the physiotherapist Mattia Bagattoni to doctors Alessandro Mazzotta and Mattia Filanti; our team manager Lorenzo Nicoletti and everyone who is here. Thanks for this great season.
Give us a bitter smile tonight, the feeling of having deserved at least one race 4 in this series is strong, but we go out with our heads very high and proud of what we have done. A fantastic group that I am honored, proud and happy to have led this far. In the coming days there will be the right moment of greeting and celebration together with all the fans as the epilogue of this season”
OraSì Ravenna-Acqua San Bernardo Cantù 58-59
(13-14, 29-31, 43-48)
Now Ravenna: Cinciarini 13, Tilghman 17, Sullivan 7, Simioni 6, Denegri 6, Berdini 9, Benetti, Gazzotti, Arnaldo, Laghi, Giovannelli, Ciadini. All .: Lotesoriere
Cantù: Stefanelli 3, Bryant 8, Vitali 5, Nikolic 8, Borsani ne, Da Ros 4, Bucarelli 4, Cusin 4, Bayehe 10, Allen 13, Severini, Tarallo ne. Herds Sodini.
OraSì Basket Ravenna Press and Communication Office
