What a blow Virtus, a surrender too quick

VIRTUS 70 OLYMPIACOS 92

SEGAFREDO : Morgan 7, Tucker 6, Holiday 4, Akele 7, Zizic 6, Cordinier 15, Belinelli 2, Diouf 9, Hackett 10, Grazulis 2, Pajola 2, Visconti ne. Coach Ivanovic.

OLYMPIACOS PIRAEUS: William-Goss 2, Fournier 12, Papanikolau 11, Vezenkov 12, Fall 12, Milutinov 12, Vildoza 5, Larentzakis 5, McKissic 4, Peters 12, Dorsey 5, Mensah ne. All. Bartzokas.

Referees: Garcia, Lottermoser, Konstantinovs.

Notes: Partials 14-34; 29-54; 54-68. Two-pointers: Virtus 21/42; Olympiacos 26/41. Three-pointers: 4/22; 9/26. Free throws: 16/22; 13/15. Rebounds: 30; 43.

The ugliest Virtus ever? Hard to say. But, at least in the first twenty minutes, the softest of recent seasons. The last-minute absences of Shengelia and Polonara – flu-stricken – are not enough to justify a performance that is difficult to label. Because, after the initial 2-0, signed by Akele, comes, between lost balls, absurd choices and even an anomalous quintet, a partial of 0-17 that closes the game in five minutes.

It is clear that the difference in tonnage, centimeters and talent was known from the beginning. On the one hand the Virtus, penultimate, on the other the rich and powerful Olympiacos which, not surprisingly, leads the Euroleague. There is a marked difference, because the numbers, if they are not everything, represent a starting point for any analysis and evaluation. But from here to raising the white flag in a quarter there is a long way to go.

Heads down and resigned from the start. As if the Virtus that (bad) quarter-final with Milan was continuing. If the gap, in favor of the Greeks, takes on embarrassing dimensions – even -28 on 24-52 –, it is due to the fact that the same Olympiacos It has something more than Olimpia.

All to be thrown away? If one were to think back only to the twenty minutes of last night, reasoning with the gut, one should think about the next season. And instead…

Instead there is a third quarter that gives some signals. Small, because at that point theOlympiacos already has a full belly, but still tangible. Because you have to run, defend. And score. And the Virtus, almost like a Sleeping Beauty until a few seconds before, wakes up from its torpor and reaches 48-60. It is not solid and safe, but it fights and puffs. Which is what all fans would like to see. If your team doesn't win, you want it to at least fight, struggle, never give up.

Whether the kiss in the third quarter – who was the black and white prince charming? – is a concrete clue we will soon find out. Tomorrow evening, again at Segafredo Arena, there is Milan. The mother of all matches.