ITA - Fortitudo file protest after costly defeat

BOLOGNA (Lega A) – Champions in 2005, relegated in 2009.

That is the state of affairs for Fortitudo Bologna after the proud outfit that has given Italian basketball so many thrills and spills over the years lost at Teramo on Sunday to fall to 10-20 and drop one game below Eldo Caserta and Solsonica Rieti in the standings.

Needing to win to stay up, Fortitudo lost 73-72.

The club has filed a protest against the officiating in the game in a last-ditch attempt to avoid relegation to Lega A Due.

"As soon as the game ended," Fortitudo general manager Zoran Savic said, "we immediately presented an appeal, having 24 hours available to expose our motivations.

"We are appealing for three reasons: Our sporting director Renato Nicolai was hit in the face by a bottle and had to abandon the court.

"At the end of the third quarter, a Matteo Malaventura basket was unjustly not given. We don't understand the reasons why it wasn't given.

"The last basket by (Alex) Scales, who was also fouled, was not given.”

Savic said Fortitudo found it extremely difficult during the game.

"We are extremely saddened and angry because it's not possible that three referees can condition a game in such a manner,” he said on Fortitudo’s website.

"We saw it immediately when in the opening minute a clear foul on (Jamont) Gordon was not called even though Jamont was unable to come back to the court."

Fortitudo are hoping to avoid joining Snaidero Cucine Udine, who won just six games this season and finished bottom of the table to fall into the Lega Due.

Scavolini Pesaro, meanwhile, has something in common with NGC Cantu and Carife Ferrara.

All three teams finished with 14 wins and 16 defeats, but Pesaro finished above the other two in eighth place to reach the post-season.

FIBA