VIRTUS SEGAFREDO BOLOGNA – CAZOO BASQUE 88-83 (16-19; 44-41; 68-62)
Virtus is still alive in the Euroleague. At the end of a complex – but decidedly solid – match, the Bianconeri beat Baskonia and remain in the running for the playoff zone. It was a game of ups and downs (18 assists and 16 losses), in which many players made an excellent contribution, from Belinelli (15) to a newly landed Shengelia, from Lundberg to Teodosic (17 and 7 assists). But the cover can only be for Abi Abass, who had a stellar match. Sent on a special mission on Howard played very well behind, but not only. Even 10 points with 100% shooting, making very heavy shots. An evening of applause, which the Como winger really deserved, and which shows that he can be of great use to Segafredo in the near future.
Report: Virtus starts 6-0, then the light goes out. He recovers after a few minutes, and Baskonia enters the game. Hommes and Giedraitis sign the 18-5 run which keeps the guests going (13-18). Segafredo goes into prolonged break, loses 7 balls in the fourth and doesn’t score for long. First rest at 16-19, thanks to a triple from Belinelli.
Not much is scored until Belinelli lights up. The captain puts three triples in the fourth for overtaking (33-31). The match is balanced, Abass defends well: 44-41 in the middle, with two final baskets from Shengelia.
Third quarter: Jaiteh is on the roller coaster, capable of doing excellent actions and cosmic rubbish in seconds. The +8 arrives (56-48), but then Howard lights up and Baskonia is immediately equal again, 58-58. The quarter-final is from Virtus: Abass puts in a great triple, Belinelli cleverly steals, Shengelia scores on the siren: 68-62 in the 30th minute.
Last quarter: Abi Abass, still him. First great block, then triple of +9 (71-62). Once again, however, Baskonia returns, with a double play with three points by Giedtrais (75-73). In the last 3′ we enter on +5, after a triple from Belinelli. It could be extended, but Ojeleye makes a mistake and from there Giedraitis makes the third 2+1 of the quarter: 78-76. But Teodosic answers from three. Thompson is wrong, and this time it’s really over. Teodosic makes three free throws and on +8 we also think about the difference between baskets. We don’t get there, however, because Costello puts up another three-point play. He wins Virtus 88-83, and that’s fine.
VIRTUS SEGAFREDO BOLOGNA – CAZOO BASQUE 88-83 (16-19; 44-41; 68-62)
BOLOGNA: Belinelli 15; Pajola 3; Jaiteh 5; Lundberg 6; Shengelia 12; Hackett 9; Mickey 2; Weems NE; Ojeleye 5; Teodosic 17; Abass 10. All. Scariolo
BASCONIA: Howard 10; Heidegger 0; Raieste 0; Marinkovic 4; Diez 3; Thompson 15; Kotsar 4; Enoch NE; Costello 7; Giedraitis 25; Men’s 15; Kurucs 0. All. Penarroya
