A relentless Virtus takes down Cremona and flies to the top

Bologna, January 20, 2025 - The Virtus bat Cremona 81-63 in the postponed match of the 16th day of the championship and reaches, at the top of the standings of the A series Trapani, Brescia and Trento. On the first day of the return leg the team of Dusko Ivanovic he imposes himself without too much trouble at the end of a challenge not very beautiful and characterized by a series of breaks and counterbreaks, but which saw only one master in the house, the Virtus.

It is the 30th challenge between the teams, with Virtus ahead 15-14 in the total of precedents and 7-6 in the challenges played in Bologna; Virtus who among other things has won the last 5 direct clashes between the teams.

Without injured Zizic and Clyburn, Ivanovic has the forced training choices, sending the 12 players currently available to the scoresheet. At the start Ivanovic relies on the quintet composed of Pajola, Belinelli, Cordinier, Polonara and Grazulis. Guests ahead 0-2, then the black and white monologue begins with Polonara, Cordinier and Belinelli launching Virtus ahead 10-2. Cremona also enters the game which brings it back to -3, but Virtus, despite a few too many mistakes, dominates so much that at the first break it is already ahead 23-13, then extends to 27-13 on Diouf's initiatives.

I black and whites disunited leave wide gaps in defense and they cash in a partial of 0-10 which brings the score back to 27-23 in the 14th minute which revives Cremona and sends Ivanovic into a rage with his team and in particular with a decidedly negative TuckerThe challenge continues with blows of breaks and counterbreaks. Belinelli and Grazlìulis thus relaunch Virtus ahead 38-25 at 17' with a partial of 11-2. At half-time the V Nere ahead by 9, led by a patched up, but decidedly effective in directing "future captain" Alexander Pajola.

The script doesn't change in the second half, with Cremona trying to stay in the match, but Virtus who controls, keeps the lead of the match without ever really risking anything and maintaining an excellent cushion of advantage thanks to the rediscovered Cordinier-Shengelia axis. Vanoli reduces again the scissors of detachment in the final part of the third quarter with a partial of 5-12 going from 56-43 to 61-55 in the 30th minute. In the last quarter the scores are scored with an eyedropper, but the inertia does not change and the black and whites extend their lead right at the end and they achieve victory and primacy.

Virtus will return to the field on Thursday for the Euroleague match, again at the Segafredo Arena against Monaco, while on Sunday they will be awaited by the afternoon away match in Sassari.

The little table

VIRTUS BOLOGNA 81

VANOILS CREMONA 63

VIRTUS SEGAFREDO BOLOGNA: Cordinier 12, Belinelli 14, Pajola 3, Visconti 3, Shengelia 15, Hackett 2, Grazulis 5, Morgan 9, Polonara 11, Diouf 4, Akele, Tucker. Coach Ivanovic.

VANOLI CREMONA: Ivanovskis ne, Willis 7, Jones 9, Davis 13, Conti, Zampini 2, Nikolic, Poser 2, Lacey 11, Venturini ne, Dreznjak, Owens 16. All, Brotto.

Referees: Sahin, Paglialunga, Nicolini.

Notes: partials 23-13, 41-32, 61-55.

nOTE – Two-pointers: Virtus 18/32; Cremona 17/39. Three-pointers: 9/28; 7/24. Free throws: 18/22; 8/12. Rebounds: 39; 34.