ESergio Scariolo’s Virtus fulfilled the predictions and was proclaimed champion of the European Championship this Wednesday after defeating the Turkish Frutti Extra Bursaspor in the final played in Bologna by 80-67, which ensures the Italian club a ticket for the next edition of the tournament. Euroleague.
Supported by packed stands, the locals – who already have six European titles in their showcases, two of them from the Euroleague – cemented their victory in their great start, in which, led by their leader Milos Teodosic, author of 21 points, they managed to finish the first quarter with an advantage of thirteen that they later knew how to manage until the end.
The Turks had a hard time starting. Weighed down by their low percentages from the perimeter, one of their main weapons, and with the battle lost on the rebound, it took them many minutes to get into the game. They achieved it before going through the changing rooms, although after dominating the second half they could only cut three points at halftime, which was reached with the hosts ten up (41-31, min 20).
The balance was maintained at the restart, which benefited the Italians, who did not see their income in danger. Bursaspor continued to row and stand up to the great favorite, but their shooters did not have their day from the triple. They also narrowly dominated the scoreboard in the third quarter (21-22) and reached the final ten minutes alive.
Although the Italians were already launched and did not want to miss the opportunity to add a new title in front of their fans and seal their qualification for the Euroleague. Led by Teodosic, well supported by Kyle Weems, Mam Jaiteh and Marco Belinelli, Sergio Scariolo’s pupils were able to stop the Turkish onslaught and smoothly seal a game that they dominated from start to finish.
