Virtus Bologna beats Reyer Venezia 90-85 in playoffs at Segafredo Arena

VIRTUS 90 REYER VENICE 85

SEGAFREDO: Hackett 5, Clyburn 12, Cordinier 4, Polonara 10, Zizic 10; Pajola 11, Morgan 12, Belinelli 11, Shengelia 7, Diouf 8, Taylor, Akele ne. All. Ivanovic.

HUMAN VENICE: Ennis 5, Wheatle 2, Parks 13, Wiltjer 14, Kabengele 15; Tessitori 3, McGruder 2, Casarin 10, Simms 2, Moretti 19; Lever ne, Fernandez ne. All. Spahija.

Referees: Rossi, Perciavalle, Baldini.

Footnotes: partial scores 28-18, 45-41, 74-56. Two-pointers: Virtus 22/34; Venezia 21/30. Three-pointers: 9/22; 8/27. Free throws: 19/23; 19/26. Rebounds: 28; 26.

La Virtus wins and convinces even if it risks complicating its life in the final. In a match dominated, demonstrating strength and solidity in defense, but also quality in attack where coach Dusko Ivanovic finds many valid alternatives, the black and whites risk in the final to put back into play a challenge that until that moment was one-way. The Black Vs make their game 1 of the playoff quarterfinals theirs, always keeping their heads ahead, except for the initial 2-5, in front of a Venice that does too little to succeed in violating the Segafredo Arena. The only real problems for the Virtus came from Wiltjer's points, Kabengele's presence under the basket and the final of a Davide Moretti who was the last to give up: too little and too late to beat a solid Virtus that tomorrow at 20.30pm always at Segafredo Arena will host Reyer for game 2. Leading the Virtus to the victory is an excellent Alessandro Pajola who to the trademark of defense and direction, also adds a fair amount of points. It is Capitan Futuro, together with Matt Morgan and Marco Belinelli to give the definitive shoulder to the match in the third fraction.

The first break comes already in the 7th minute after a 10-2 break that on Clyburn's initiatives. At the 8th minute the advantage of the black and whites reaches double digits at 24-13, reaching +14 at 28-14 shortly after. The Forever Boys greet Bologna for the victory of the Italian Cup with a banner "The squadron is back, Bologna champion" which is followed by applause from the entire Arena.

Achille Polonara keeps his opponents at bay, but in the end they exploit Kabengelel's power under the basket and score a 0-9 partial. In the second half, with the score at 53-49, Pajola leads the charge, Morgan and captain Belinelli follow him and the Virtus flies 77-56 at 32'. The pace of the game slows down, there is time for the debut of Brandon Taylor, 2', and Venice thanks to a Virtus already in the locker rooms he reduces the gap with a 0-13 break, bringing the score back to -8 on 85-77. Technical to Wiltjer, double technical and expulsion to Spahija and then a final with a few too many worries.