Virtus Mission accomplished: smiles and primacy

Virtus Bologna 81 Cremona 63

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

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

Referees: Sahin, Paglialunga, Nicolini.

Notes: Partials 23-13; 41-32; 61-55. Two-pointers: Bologna 18/32; Cremona 17/39. Three-pointers: 9/28; 7/24. Free throws: 18/22; 8/12. Rebounds: 39; 34.

A Virtus weighed down by the toils of Euroleague bat Cremona thus completing the quartet that leads the standings. The lack of consistent performance by the Bianconeri allows the guests to keep alive a match where the game produced was not particularly brilliant by slaloming between one mistake and another.

The Black V comes to this postponement without Will Clyburn and Ante Zizic and, at least from this point of view, there is some news. The Croatian center should be out for four weeks. For this reason, if no complications were to emerge, the club has decided not to look for a replacement under the basket.

The situation is different for the alternative, at least numerically, to Clyburn. The club, which has been searching for a few weeks now, had identified the right figure in Devontè Graham, a 185 centimeter point guard, with a past between the NBA and the G-League. The agreement had been reached, then the player, who had already said no to Real Madrid, withdrew. Citing as a reason the ranking situation of Virtus not particularly brilliant in the Euroleague and thus preferring to remain in the United States.

Returning to the match the Virtus starts off strong going to 27-13, then Cremona gets close to -4 (27-23), but doesn't go any further. Matt Morgan signs the new +14 (52-38), but there is a new Lombard jolt (61-55). Despite Ivanovic's anger, the mistakes show no signs of decreasing so the black and whites have no choice but to rely on the award-winning duo formed by Toko Shengelia and Isaiah CordierFrom the free throw line the Georgian, by far the best, signs the + 15 (75-60) and with 3'10” to go this advantage is synonymous with victory.

The 'princes' of Monaco arrive at the Segafredo Arena on Thursday for the Euroleague.