Spectacular and very intense match won by Bologna, once again, with the defense. Djordjevic’s men beat Brindisi also in Game 3, driven by an amazing Teodosic and an excellent choral application in their own half. In Brindisi athletics and Harrison and Gaspardo’s baskets are not enough: the Apulians come out of the playoffs with their heads held high after an extraordinary year. Tonight eyes focused on Venice-Milan, the other semi-final, from which Segafredo’s opponent for the Scudetto could come out as early as today.
FIRST FOUR
Brindisi immediately tries to free himself from the arch but Gaspardo’s attempt splinters the iron. Djordjevic starts with the defensive quintet, giving space to Markovic and Abass. Gamble opens the scoring with a dunk suggested by Ricci’s pass. Thompson and Harrison respond by giving the guests the first advantage in the match (2-5). Bologna struggles to find games in attack: the attempts in post by Ricci and Gamble are extinguished on the iron and it is up to Teodosic to put order from the arc with the basket of -2 (5-7). Brindisi attacks well under the iron, forcing Bologna to enter the bonus in the middle of the first quarter. Perkins makes 0/2 from the line and Teodosic brings Virtus back in front with a penetration and an additional free for Udom’s foul (8-7). The Apulians do not find good percentages of 3 and also the aim from the free is not excellent. Even for the Vnere the line is taboo and the errors from under the basket allow Brindisi to stay in contact and make the double pass with Harrison’s triple (13-17). Segafredo’s last possession goes out on the first iron and the teams close a quarter where the defenses definitely got the better of the attacks.
SECOND FOUR
Bologna continues to be not very incisive in attack and Brindisi gets the maximum advantage with Harrison’s bomb (13-22). Djordjevic is not satisfied and immediately stops the game to stop the enthusiasm of the opponents. Teodosic replies with a triple but Belinelli forces his conclusions too much and Harrison finds the triple from +11 from a distance (16-27). Virtus does not lose her temper and with two excellent insertions builds a 5-0 mini run by Julian Gamble. The Juventus pivot is also the protagonist in defense with a block on Perkins and Teodosic in penetration brings his team back to -4 (23-27). Brindisi protests for some referee choices: in particular, Bostic’s complaints about a slight contact on his 3-pointer give Bologna the coach of -1 (28-29). Weems commits a serious lightness in defense and the guests build the new extension up to +7 with the usual Harrison from the arc. Segafredo returns to -3 starting from the defense and Markovic’s penetration favored by his teammates’ blocks convinces Vitucci to call time out. Thompson from 3 does only retina and punishes some offensive indecisions of Segafredo. In closing quarter the hosts shorten from the line to the new -3. In the last possession Brindisi does not even reach the shot and the teams reach the locker rooms at 37-40.
THIRD FOURTH
The recovery begins with a lot of confusion. Both teams force the possessions and Teodosic unlocks the result after 2 minutes of errors. Gaspardo moves the scoreboard of Brindisi with a support from below and with a basket and foul on Thompson’s lob. Weems signs up for the match with a triple of -2, but Ricci misses the uncontested attempt to overtake. Weems scores again and recovers an important possession in defense, but Alibegovic wastes everything. Brindisi does not materialize and Teodosic still finds Weems under the basket for the support of 46-46. Segafredo’s defense is unbeatable and Abass takes advantage of it to make the free throw of the new advantage Vnere (48-46). Bell signs the counter-overtaking from the arc, but Belinelli finds the first 3 points of his game from the line after a foul by Bostic. Hunter also unlocks with a big pivot foot, but Udom brings Brindisi back to -2 in penetration. Markovic stretches in step back but Udom once again keeps his teammates at a distance of possession with the tap in of 55-53 Bologna.
FOURTH FOURTH
Belinelli also lights up from the field making the +5 Segafredo bomb after 0/6 in the first three quarters. Bostic responds with the same weapon from the corner and Willis gives Brindisi the draw (50-50). Bologna derails in attack and Hunter’s naive foul on Bostic’s archery allows Happy Casa to reach +3 (58-61). Belinelli is sanctioned with a technician for simulating a contact on the shot, but Brindisi does not take advantage of the Juventus difficult moment and Belinelli finds the equalizer from the corner (62-62). Teodosic does + from the middle distance, but Gaspardo scores the triple of the overtaking table. Bostic grinds points from the line, but Virtus works well on penetrations, using them to stay at -1. Teodosic takes responsibility for a very heavy triple and realizes it, bringing everything back to parity (69-69). Bologna tightens the shirts in defense and the technician whistled at Vitucci for excessive protests allows the VNere to stretch up to +5 to 2 ‘from the final siren. Willis misses 3 but Segafredo does not materialize. Harrison earns two major throws but only makes 1/2. Brindisi is definitely on the legs and builds confusing attacks. Teodosic, on the other hand, is glacial from the line and capitalizes on the new +6 (76-70). In the last seconds there is room for Gaspardo’s dunk and Belinelli’s 2/2 from the line. Harrison’s bomb with 1 ”from the end is painless: Bologna beats Brindisi for the third time in three games (78-75) and becomes the first championship finalist of the season.
TABLES
Bologna power Segafredo
Belinelli 11, Pajola 3, Alibegovic 1, Markovic 6, Ricci, Adams ne, Hunter 6, Weems 9, Nikolic ne, Teodosic 29, Gamble 11, Abass 2
Happy House Brindisi
Bostic 10, Zanelli 2, Harrison 15, Visconti, Gaspardo 14, Thompson 11, Cattapan ne, Guido ne, Udom 4, Bell 7, Perkins 5, Willis 7
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