Virtus Bologna, eternal unfinished business: defeated by Paris

Bologna, 7 February 2025 - The eternal unfinished. A volitional Virtus holds the field very well against a launched player Paris, but gives in at the end 77-83 after having been in the lead for a long time and even reaching a double-digit lead. It's a shame, because right at the end the energy was lacking to bring home a victory that the team of Dusko Ivanovic would have deserved it. At the individual level, the Montenegrin coach found excellent responses from the usual Shengelia, Cordier positive and from what was perhaps the best Tucker of the season.

Ivanovic immediately launches into the quintet Holiday, but the start of the challenge is all for Paris, ahead 2-9 until the first timeout of the match. After the initial shock, Virtus gradually enters the game in a clear crescendo that sees the black and whites extending to close on +8 at 25-17 at the first stop, holding well in the second half and then going to the interval with a triple by captain Belinelli and the points previously by Shengelia ahead 46-35. At the start of the second half, Virtus extends reaching the maximum advantage at +14, 55-41 at 23'. Paris in flashes coming back up to -5 at 55-50 with a break of 0-9.

Guests who they date back to -4 58-54 shortly after, but a very positive Tucker with 5 points in a row takes care of pushing Paris back. At 30' the black and whites are ahead 64-58. At the beginning of the second half a new 8-2 run brings the black and white advantage back to double digits at 72-60, with Tucker at 33'.

Break and counterbreak with Paris putting together a partial of 0-11 and getting back to -2 in less than 1' at 72-71. The transalpines miss the triple of the overtaking twice, but then put the arrow with the basket on the drive by Hifi for the 2-72 in the 73'. Virtus is in trouble, struggling against the physicality of the French who have much more energy.

Grazulis breaks Paris' streak for 74-73, but Shorts scores 2 baskets for 74-77 in the 39th minute.

Cordinier scores but misses the extra free throw which could have tied the game with 50” to go. Sy scores on the other side, Cordinier misses again from the free throw line with 1 of 2.

The little table

VIRTUS BOLOGNA 77

PARIS BASKETBALL 83

VIRTUS SEGAFREDO BOLOGNA: Hackett, Cordinier 15, Holiday 3, Shengelia 17, Grazulis 7; Belinelli 8, Pajola 2, Morgan 4, Polonara 3, Diouf 4, Tucker 14; Akele ne. Coach Ivanovic.

PARIS BASKETBALL: Shorts 16, Malcolm 7, Ward 7, Jantunen 13, Hayes 2; Hifi 23, Cavaliere, Sy 7, Kratzer, Lo 5, Ouattara 3, Hommes. Splitter annex.

Referees: Ryzhyk, Jovcic, Kowalski.

Footnotes: partials 25-17, 46-35, 64-58

Two-point shots: Virtus 23/39; Paris 18/25. Three-pointers: 8/24; 11/37. Free throws: 7/10; 14/15. Rebounds: 34; 34.