Virtus, the Italian Cup is still a taboo. Soft and without anger: there is only Olimpia

VIRTUS BOLOGNA77OLYMPIA MILAN91

SEGAFREDO BOLOGNA: Pajola 5, Cordinier 7, Holiday 1, Shengelia 14, Diouf 20, Grazulis, Belinelli 10, Tucker 6, Polonara 7, Hackett 7, Akele, Visconti ne. Coach Ivanovic.

EA7 MILAN: Mannion 4, Bolmaro 10, Shields 19, Leday 16, Gillespie 2, Mirotic 8, Tonut 3, Dimitrievic 14, Diop, Ricci 9, Flaccadori 6, Caruso n. All. Messina.

Referees: Attard, Giovannetti and Lo Guzzo.

Footnotes: partial scores 18-20; 33-47; 53-71. Two-pointers: Virtus Bologna 20/33; Olimpia Milano 18/35. Three-pointers: 6/20; 14/27. Free throws: 19/28; 13/17. Rebounds: 31; 30.

The coaches change – from Djordjevic to Scariolo, from Banchi to Ivanovic –, but the music doesn't change for the Virtus who remains allergic to Coppa Italia, the trophy that Massimo Zanetti, who has a championship, a EuroCup and a few Super Cups under his belt, continues to desire in vain.

Out of Coppa Italia and by 'Euroleague: Virtus can only think about the end of the regular season, the playoffs and possibly trying to win the championship.

Only the trip to Turin - to the long-term patients Clyburn and Zizic is added the flu-ridden Morgan - leaves a bad impression. Because Virtus, after a first half played with sufficient personality, lets Milan escape. And it does so, this is the most worrying fact, without giving signs of reactions, anger or (sporting) malice.

The problems are the usual ones: long-range shots – those of the rivals go in with a certain frequency, the black and white ones are always uncertain and unstable – and lost balls.

Coach Ivanovic also does his bit. A few days ago, in the Euroleague, he doesn't give continuity to a particularly inspired Tucker. Against Milan, with Rayjon clearly in difficulty between fouls in attack, lost balls and pointless shots, the Montenegrin coach gives him nine minutes in the first half. The minutes that Milan needs to dig a gap. Bologna stays ahead until 12-9, immediately a break of 0-9 that responds with interest, finding the new parity at 18. But it's a flash in the pan: Shields doesn't miss from three, Virtus finds the way only with Pajola (at the start) and captain Belinelli. Too little to worry Olimpia that even reaches +16 on 31-47.

That Ivanovic himself is having a night to forget is clear when, after suffering two triples in a row from Leday and touching -16 again, the coach doesn't think twice about calling a minute. They continue until -18, 45-63, before trying to stop an endless hemorrhage. Ivanovic tries to play the Akele card, but Milan continues to find the basket. For the defense strategist, as for his team, a night to forget. And a future to rebuild by trying to find confidence, self-esteem and, maybe, some long-distance shots. Because if Virtus is the soft one it was yesterday, it really won't go very far.