Shengelia's primacy is there, so Virtus rises again

VIRTUS 86 OLYMPIA MILAN 80

SEGAFREDO : Pajola 3, Belinelli 19, Cordinier 8, Akele 2, Diouf 10, Zizic 4, Shengelia 15, Hackett 9, Morgan 16, Holiday, Tucker, Visconti ne. Coach Ivanovic.EA7 MILAN: Mannion 9, Tonut 9, Causeur 2, Mirotic 22, Leday 17, Gillespie 3, Flaccadori 2, Brooks 9, Diop 2, Bortolani, Ricci 5, Caruso ne. Messina Coach. Referees: Sahin, Borgioni, Bongiorni. Notes: partial scores 20-25; 38-34; 63-59. Two-pointers: Virtus 19/33; Olimpia 16/32. Three-pointers: 11/27; 7/29. Free throws: 15/22; 27/30. Rebounds: 32; 40.

To have it or not to have it? It makes all the difference in the world. Who are we talking about? Toko Shengelia. Who leaves behind ulcers, grazed knees, worn ankles and even a bit of flu. The presence of the Georgian galvanizes everyone and the Virtus erase the dark period. Which does not mean having solved all the problems – Holiday is starting to be –, but having still beaten Milan and found the first place in cohabitation. And think about the future with greater serenity. That something changes, compared to Olympiacos, you can immediately sense. From the bizarre quintet, seen with the Greeks in the Euroleague, to the Italian quartet with the addition of the Frenchman Cordinier. Virtus-Olympia is it the Italian derby?

Ivanovic starts with Pajola (rightly praised by the fans), Belinelli, Akele and Diouf, the national team of yesterday and tomorrow. Shields is not there, at home Olimpia, but twelve – and of level – Milan always has them anyway. Initial monologue by Mirotic, who mistreats Akele first, then the former feverish Shengelia: 3-10. The Virtus finds the first tie at 15, then suffers six free throws in a row from Leday with protests, not unfounded, from Ivanovic. Milan starts again on 20-29, but it stops there. Because Cordinier and Shengelia are growing. TheOlimpia remains ahead until 27-31, then, with an 11-0, the Virtus he puts the arrow and goes to the break with a different face and confidence than the dejected ones of Friday in the Euroleague. Virtus still runs away on 50-38, but Mirotic remains a puzzle for all the black and white defenders and theOlimpia finds parity at 55 thanks to Ettore Messina's ace.

But Ivanovic also has some wild cards to play. Captain Belinelli, with some shots – crazy or ignorant, you decide, for the speed of execution – and also Morgan give breath and courage to the Virtus who brings home a heavy victory. Even more, a very heavy one: 2-0 in direct clashes with theOlimpia. But if Holiday is the same as yesterday and Friday, then Clyburn better try to hurry up the comeback. Because the Virtus he needs him.