The unfinished La Virtus is thrown away again

Virtus Bologna 77 Paris 83

SEGAFREDO : Hackett, Cordinier 15, Holiday 3, Shengelia 17, Grazulis 7, Pajola 2, Polonara 3, Morgan 4, Tucker 14, Diouf 4, Belinelli 8, Akele ne. Coach Ivanovic.

PARIS: Shorts 16, Malcom 7, Ward 7, Jantunen 13, Hayes 2, Hifi 23, Cavaliere, Hommes, Ouattara 3, Lo 5, Kratzer, Sy 7. All. Splitter.

Referees: Ryzhyk, Jovcic, Kowalski.

Notes: Partials 25-17; 46-35; 64-58. Two-pointers: Virtus 23/39; Paris 18/25. Three-pointers: 8/24; 11/37. Free throws: 7/10; 14/15, Rebounds: 34; 34.

As many, too many times, this season, the Virtus he plants himself and leaves space for the physicality of the opponents. It is true that the black and whites have nothing more to ask of theEuroleague of this season, but winning gives smiles, confidence and self-esteem.

Virtus, on the other hand, is left with a bitter taste in their mouths, after having toyed with the idea of ​​stopping the French. A triple by Tucker still gives Virtus a consistent lead: 72-60 with 7'26'' to go. But right there, Virtus stalls. The basket becomes too small, keeping the French at their frenetic, even schizophrenic pace becomes impossible. A basket by Hifi closes a 0-13 partial that makes it 72-73. Two points by Grazulis (assist by Belinelli) give the home team the final lead, 74-73. To be honest, at 74-77, there is a basket by Cordinier who also has the additional point. But Isaia, no point in blaming him, misses the personal score, leaving the score at 76-77, and Paris runs away.

And before? There are Massimo Zanetti and Carlo Gherardi. Perhaps a sign for the future, since just yesterday the new black and white course began and, in the last outings, Gherardi, who has 45 percent of the company shares, had not been seen. They see each other again almost side by side and you see a Virtus that would like to take a victory, to demonstrate that it is worth the Euroleague also for the future. You see, for the first time in the quintet, Justin Holiday, the most observed, even during the warm-up, because the curiosity to see in action someone who won the ring with Golden State is strong.

And the French start strong, taking the lead to 2-9, forcing Ivanovic to call a timeout. Splitter has a rather schizophrenic management, even changing an entire quintet. Ivanovic relies on the totem Shengelia, trying to surround him with ready elements. The result, only for 33 minutes, proves him right. Tomorrow they return to the field in Tortona, then, from Wednesday, the Italian Cup in Turin with the mother of all matches, the challenge with Milan.