Virtus beaten and last, Zalgiris passes to Casalecchio

Virtus fails in their last assault and suffers their third defeat in the Euroleague, leaving them with zero points in the standings. Zalgiris Kaunas is still fatal to her as she conquers Casalecchio, winning a frantic final after Vu, who also finished at -15, had managed a comeback full of nerves to risk everything in the last actions. The errors of Cordinier and Belinelli in the search for extra time were fatal, Vu, after a censorious first half, at least fought in the second half reactivated by Pajola’s calls, 11 points and 5 assists, only to not find the match winner in the sprint. All in vain in front of the Lithuanians, more concrete, more of a team than Bologna, and also the 16 points of an alternate Clyburn. 5/15 from the field, they seemed to be the result of single play.

Finishing 14 down at halftime, Vu paid for a first half made up of individual plays, a front line that was always bypassed and a 0-15 score between the first two quarters that was enough to kill a horse. Clyburn had the night, 13 points at halftime, but he looked like the lone gunslinger rather than the spearhead of the nation. Then the faces were dark when we returned to the locker room with the Lithuanians deservedly ahead by 30-44, and the curve starting to make noise.

Doubled in rebounds, 9 against 18, despite Pajola calling for action, Vu had fear in her eyes. And it was the boy who grew up in Virtus who gave the shock as soon as they returned from the long break: steal and basket first, two points later from an attacking rebound and Bologna was shaking. The 41-49 at 5′ 50” opened up horizons that were still viable. A 4-0 from the foul line scored by the Georgian at 4′ 25” read -4 Bologna. Kaunas was unforgiving from long range but on the Belinelli-Pajola axis Vu at least had put the knife between its teeth.

Entering the decisive 10′ the Lithuanians with noisy fans in tow led 52-60. Polonara on the hook for 56-62, called Palazzo to the rescue when there were 7′ 21” left to play. Vu at -3 with Cordinier’s triple, 61-62 with Diouf who snatched a basket from six Lithuanian hands. There was still a game at 5′ 51” with Vu putting up the barricades. And from the line Shengelia overtook, 63-62, to begin the long sprint. Triple by Pajola at 1′ 20” 68-70, Smailagic from the line, 68-71. At 35″ Vu was messing up the attack but with 17″ she had the last attack available: Cordinier post, Belinelli post and that was it. You will be back on the field on Friday for the cup, with the trip to the Principality of Montercarlo.