We talked already about the ULEB Cup game between Oostende and Red Star a few weeks ago where apparently the game winning shot has been released after the final horn. Now the Belgians got another big disappointment in another close game.
What happened? In fact, I was a bit confused at the beginning when I read the following news on the ULEB Cup website.
The Euroleague Basketball disciplinary judge has ordered the replay of the Week 8 regular season game between Telindus Oostende and Beghelli Bologna in Group F of the ULEB Cup. The decision by the disciplinary judge, Patrick Grandjean, was based on a disputed three-point shot by Beghelli at the end of the original game, which Oostende was credited with having won, 62-60, on January 8. Pending the possibility of an appeal, that result will be voided and the game replayed with the same players involved in the first one.
First of all, I thought they were talking about the Oostende-Red Star game which has been won by the Serbs on a last second shot by Tadija Dragicevic. But then, I read the story again and it said Beghelli Bologna. So what happened there?
In fact, when reading the official report on the ULEB Cup website, I could imagine the situation they have been talking about.
Mancinelli tied the game at 60-60 with a minute to go. Both teams missed critical shots in the final minute but Green scored to give Oostende a 62-60 lead. Torres buried a big triple for Beghelli – but did it after the buzzer so it happened to be too late for the guests.
After the game, the Italians protested against the decision to not count the basket scored by Oscar Torres. According to the Belgian website 7sur7, the last play had to be scored in 6/10 of a second. The Belgian video footage of the situation however was credited with 79/100 of a second of the play, and so the decision to not allow the basket was correct.
Who is now right is difficult to say. However, the ULEB decided that the game has to be replayed. I can imagine that the Belgians feel a bit stupid right now, as they lost one game at the buzzer which was far from being clear when you check the picture below. And now they also got a victory taken away by judges.