Virtus A high level time thinking about Trento

EFES ISTANBUL

89

VIRTUS BOLOGNA

68

EFES ISTANBUL: Larkin 12, Thompson 8, Bryant 21, Osmani 3, Pourier 18, Smits 11, Oturu 8, Dozier 6, Nwora 2, Beaubois, Yilmaz, Willis ne. Enclosures Benches.

SEGAFREDO BOLOGNA: Hackett 4, Cordinier 8, Holiday 4, Shengelia 17, Zizic 5, Morgan 11, Diouf 4, Polonara 2, Pajola 9, Akele 4, Grazulis, Visconti ne. All. Ivanovic.

Referees: Javor, Aliaga, Thepenier.

Notes: Partials 24-24; 39-42; 61-52. Two-pointers: Efes 19/37; Virtus 19/34. Three-pointers: 13/27; 6/23. Free throws: 12/15; 12/16. Rebounds: 40-28.

ISTANBUL (Türkiye)

Another round, another defeat. But, in reality, it might be reductive, if not downright wrong, to label the Istanbul defeat in this way.

It is true that Virtus concedes twenty-one, but the Turks only run riot in the last five minutes, when Virtus understood that there were no more chances and Ivanovic, rightly, began to think about the match on Monday night, at the Segafredo Arena, with Trento. A challenge that, Brescia permitting, could be worth the lead.

That Virtus is interested in the trip is clear from the fact that captain Belinelli is staying home. Marco is too important for a team that struggles with long-range shooting. Ivanovic knows that his captain will soon celebrate his 39th birthday. Better to look beyond.

It would be wrong, on the contrary, to give too much emphasis to the beginning of Virtus which, in the second quarter, also reaches +9 on 26-35.

Efes is playing a lot, maybe everything, hoping to get into the play-in. Virtus, on the other hand, plays with a clear mind and the ball seems less heavy. Especially for Pajola, who scores three threes, and for Morgan, who proves to be an excellent 'troublemaker'. The rest, to sew and mend, is taken care of by the usual Toko Shengelia, someone who has the Euroleague in his heart and who really fits in that tournament.

Ivanovic takes advantage of this to give Akele some chances, even on the international stage and experimenting with daring quintets, with Akele, precisely, as number three.

Shengelia can also count on a personal cheer because there are five or six fans who show off the Georgia jersey. Last close contacts on 70-62 at 35'. Then a triple by Larkin starts the Turkish parade with Virtus that, with its head, is already at the Segafredo Arena.