Virtus Bologna falls to Milan 77-91 and immediately says goodbye to the Italian Cup

Turin, 12 February 2025 - La Virtus say goodbye to the Italian Cup right away. TheArmani Milano makes it its own the most anticipated quarter-final and beats a subdued Virtus by 77-91 and that apart from the initial phase of the match has always been forced to chase an Olimpia that relies on Shields and Leday and that finds a fair amount of continuity from all the other elements.

Bad Virtus that just isn't there and that has recorded an evident step backwards also thanks to percentages, especially from three, really bad. Virtus still without Morgan, in Turin with the team, but not yet available after the flu attack that hit him on the eve of Sunday's challenge with Tortona. For the quarterfinal with Armani at the Inalpi Arena at the start of the challenge coach Dusko Ivanovic relies on Paola, Cordinier, Holiday, Shengelia and Diouf.

Milan, on the other hand, recovers Mirotic and, apart from Nebo, presents itself almost at full strength. Better start for Virtus who holds with a firm grip. Milan turns the situation around with a partial of 0-9, taking the lead 12-18, followed by a counter-partial that brings the challenge back to equilibrium at 18-18. However, Armani tries to escape at the beginning of the second partial with Virtusche struggling in attack and Milan reaching a double-digit advantage and touching the maximum advantage of the first half +16, on 31-47, at 19'.

The inertia until the interval is all for the Armani who controls, finds cwith continuity the way to the basket, with Shields surgical, Dimitrijevic and Bolmaro excellent shoulders and takes advantage of a Virtus below par that instead appears packed, at times too frenetic and hasty and that struggles in attack where only Cordinier scores at the start and captain Belinelli. At the beginning of the second half Virtus tries to put energy. Hackett and the triple of Polonara reduce the gap, but Milan is master of the challenge and touches the maximum advantage +19, on 47-66 at 27'. The last quarter is nothing but pure academy for Milan against a Virtus that just isn't there and that also sinks to -21 on 53-74 at 31'. The semifinal, scheduled for Saturday afternoon goes so Armani that will challenge Brescia victorious in the first quarterfinal with Tortona for 86-79.

The little table

VIRTUS BOLOGNA 77 ARMANI MILANO 91 VIRTUS SEGAFREDO BOLOGNA: Paola 5, Cordinier 7, Holiday 1, Shengelia 14, Diouf 20; Hackett 7, Belinelli 10, Tucker 6, Polonara 7, Grazulis; Akele, Visconti ne. Coach Ivanovic.

OLIMPIA ARMANI MILANO: Mannion 4, Bolmaro 10, Shields 19, Leday 16, Gillespie 2; Dimitrijevic 14, Flaccadori 6, Mirotic 8, Tonut 3, Ricci 9, Diop; Caruso ne. All. Messina

Referees: Attard, Giovannetti, Lo Guzzo.

Notes: partials 18-20, 33-47, 53-71.

Two-pointers: Virtus 20/33; Milan 18/35. Three-pointers: 6/20; 14/27. Free throws: 19/28; 13/17. Rebounds: 31; 30.