Milan is cynical, Bologna does not conclude the comeback. The 2020 Super Cup goes to Olimpia

Olimpia Milano completes the perfect job. A controlled Super Cup from the preliminary rounds and brought home after a tough match against Virtus Bologna. Messina’s men start well, setting 12 points behind the opponent at the interval. Segafredo returns with character up to -2, but Armani makes the most of the opportunities he had had. First trophy for Ettore Messina on the Milan bench, fourth Supercoppa raised by the red and white in the last five editions. Nothing to do for Bologna, which suffers the defensive pressure of the opponents and the individual initiatives of Punter, Datome and Delaney. The first challenge between the two favorites for the Scudetto goes to Olimpia.

CHRONICLE

The spotlights are turned on on the 2020 Super Cup final. On the parquet of the Segafredo Arena, the great favorites of the competition, Milan and Virtus Bologna, will try to win the first trophy of the season. Olimpia takes the field after a clear path of 7 victories, in which the Lombard team has shown right from the start that it is the team to beat, with a technical and qualitative rate higher than many competitors. Virtus’ path was more complicated, with the qualification achieved on the last day of the group stage and the discontinuity within the individual matches. Djordjevic’s team, however, has grown over the weeks and tonight they will try to win a Super Cup that has been missing in Bologna for 15 years. Messina is betting on the men who beat Venice on Friday, still excluding Shields, Roll and LeDay, while Djordjevic leaves the young Deri in the stands.

FIRST FOUR

Gamble opened the scoring with a schacciata suggested by Teodosic’s assist. After a minute and a half Markovic is sanctioned with a foul and a subsequent technical foul after prolonged contact with Delaney. Milan continuously finds good offensive opportunities despite Virtus Bologna’s organized defense. After 3 and a half minutes Delaney makes the triple of +6 (9-3), the maximum red and white advantage. Micov is forced to leave the field after a game clash that forces him to forfeit. Virtus quickly circulates the ball on offense to overcome the opponents’ defensive wall, without finding effective solutions. Punter is irrepressible and the sixth point of his game forces Djordjevic to call the first time out at 15-7 for Olimpia. Abass goes on his own and reduces the gap with the central triple of -5. Physicality is growing and the teams find points mainly from the line. One minute from the end of the fourth Rodriguez serves Tarczewski the 21-14 ball. Adams makes 2/2 from the line and brings his team to the first break at -5 (21-16), thanks to the last possession not capitalized by Milan.

SECOND FOURTH

The period begins with Weems’ support of -3, but Delaney immediately responds with a quick triple. The midfield of the Vnere loses several balls in setting and Datome achieves the 26-18 basket on the counterattack. Delaney and Hines stretch up to +11 (31-20) and the Segafredo bench stops the game again so as not to let the opponents run away. Gamble takes the reins of the team with 5 consecutive points, which together with Weems’ free throws bring Virtus back to -7 (33-26). Moraschini unlocks Milan with the bomb of 36-26 after some actions without baskets. Virtus struggled to unhinge Armani’s defense and two minutes from the interval went to -13 after a 3-game by Datome. Gamble tries to shake his team with a dunk, but Milan finds uncontested baskets with excellent ball circulation. Weems scores -12 and Messina calls time out to reorganize the team in view of the last minute of the period. The score does not change and the teams reach the locker room at 45-33. Great first half for Milan, who managed to stem the quality of the Juventus midfield with suffocating pressure on every ball. To stay in the game Segafredo in the second half will have to find more effective solutions in both phases.

THIRD FOURTH

Virtus looks for men under the basket and scores points with Alibegovic. Markovic achieves the triple of -9 without rhythm. The Milan attack suddenly stops thanks to the dedication of the opponents in marking. Alibegovic capitalizes on the game of 3 of -6 and the Vnere fall only two possessions away. The Armani fails to enter the painting and not even the conclusions from the arch bring great results. Given me oxygen to his team with a 2/2 from the line, but Abass responds immediately. Milan does not score and Hunter signs a partial personal 4-0 for -2 (53-51) 30 seconds from the last quarter. Olimpia is still wrong and the period ends at 53-51. Ettore Messina’s choice not to call time out to stop the comeback and reorganize the attack of his team, who scored only 8 points in 10 minutes.

ROOM ROOM

The last period opens with two turnovers from Ricci and Punter scores 5 consecutive points putting Virtus back 7 points away (58-51). Djordjevic calls time out but his team no longer find the way to the basket. For two minutes the defenses prevail, up to the complicated falling basket by Abass and the support of Alibegovic of the new -3 Bologna. Milan is cynical from the line and 6 minutes from the end returns to +6. Teodosic scores 3 after a complicated game, but Tarczewski is effective in the low post and brings Olimpia back to +5. Djordjevic stops the game again, but on the return Punter suffers the fourth foul by Teodosic on the 3-pointer. The Serbian gets angry at the choice of the backhoe, risking the coach. Punter makes 1/3 and Alibegovic makes no mistake in the reversal in front. Datome finds 5 consecutive points for +9 with 3 minutes from the end, in a fundamental moment of the match. Hunter responds with a 3-player game and starts a partial 5-0 for Juventus. Delaney makes 0/2 but Teodosic misses 3. Rodriguez does not forgive from the arc and leads Milan on a reassuring 72-65 with one minute left. Teodosic is sanctioned with the coach, ending his game. Rodriguez stretches further from the line and Virtus abandons the dream of winning the Super Cup. Milan raises the trophy by beating Bologna 75-68.

TABLES

AX Exchange Milano

Punter 14, Moretti 0, Micov 2, Moraschini 5, Rodriguez 9, Tarczewski 6, Biligha 0, Cinciarini 2, Delaney 11, Brooks 0, Hines 9, Datome 17

Bologna power Segafredo

Weavers NE, Abass 12, Straw 2, Alibegovic 13, Markovic 3, Ricci 4, Adams 2, Hunter 9, Weems 5, Nikolic NE, Teodosic 6, Gamble 12

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