Virtus wins the Italian derby, heart and determination: against Milan 86-80

Bologna, 2 March 2025 – Il derby of Italy is from Virtus. Dusko Ivanovic's team beats Armani Milano 86-80 and win a victory which allows it to detach Armani by four points and return to aiming for the top.

It was seen on the field a strong-willed Virtus who put grit, determination, heart, in front of the sold out Segafredo Arena. The long-term absentee Clyburn, unavailable Polonara, for the 6+6 rule Ivanovic leaves Grazulis in the stands. Ivanovic surprises everyone again and obviously relies on Pajola, Cordinier, Belinelli, Akele and Diouf.

On the other side, the former Messina player instead fields Mannion, Causer, Tonut, Mirotic and Leday. Banner of the Forever Boys Virtus for Alessandro Pajola. The start was difficult for the Black Vs, who were down 1-8, with Mirotic, already in double figures at the 10th minute, always present.

Pajola and Captain Beninelli keep Virtus afloat, but in the final part of the quarter Milan rides Leday who with 6 free throws in a row, with fouls also contested by the black and white bench, takes the lead 17-25 at 9'. A triple by Hackett at the buzzer closes the first 10' at 20-25. At the beginning of the second quarter Milan reaches +9 on 20-29, but with a partial 11-2 brought about by Morgan and Shengelia Virtus ties it at 31-31 in the 13th minute, forcing Messina to ask for time and further raising the decibels of an already very hot Segafredo Arena.

The break is getting longer, Cordinier is there to give the second push in Milan with the black and whites touching +7 on 38-31 after a partial of 13-0 extended to 13-0. Brooks is still the only one with 8 points in the quarter to score for Armani to remove the cork from the black and white basket after 9' of nothing.

In the second half Virtus confirms its solid defense and quite effective in attack where a new partial of 6-0 touches the double advantage, 47-36 in the 22nd minute, Mirotic alone brings the challenge back to equilibrium for the 55-55 in the 27th minute, but Shengelia and above all captain Belinelli push Milan back to -4.

Leday and Mirotic are thorns in the side of the Juventus defence and so Ivanovic also tries to play with 3 wingers and 2 centres with Zizic and Diouf on the pitch together for a few minutes. The turning point in the match, however, came with Matt Morgan's 3 consecutive baskets which bring Virtus ahead 76-67 at 34'. Mirotic and Tonut are the last to surrender but Virtus is no longer at risk, holds the course and earns the 2 very important points up for grabs.

The little table

VIRTUS BOLOGNA 86 ARMANI MILANO 80 VIRTUS SEGAFREDO BOLOGNA: Cordinier 8, Holiday, Belinelli 19, Pajola 3, Visconti ne, Shengelia 15, Hackett 9, Morgan 16, Diouf 10, Zizic 4, Akele 3, Tucker. Coach Ivanovic. EA7 EMPORIO ARMANI MILAN: Mannino, Bortolani, Causer, Tonut, Brooks, Leday, Ricci, Flaccadori, Diop, Caruso, Mirotic, Gillespie. Coach Messina. Referees: Sahin, Borgioni, Bongiorni. Footnotes: partial: 20-25, 38-34, 63-59. Two-point shots: Virtus 19/33 Milan 16/32. Three-pointers: 11/27 ; 7/29. Free throws: 15/22; 27/30. Rebounds: 32; 40