Photo Credit To Matteo Marchi / Massimo Ceretti / Ciamillo-Castoria / Virtus Pallacanestro Bologna
Slowly browned, Virtus (without Abass due to a muscle problem and Jaiteh due to flu, in addition to the usual Cordinier-Teodosic-Pajola) gives way to the two European champions who thus continue the chase to the playoffs.
He enters the field with a different mentality compared to what we saw 2 days ago, finding a quick Mickey at the start as we have rarely seen him, and as long as the defense held up, or rather, the Turks fired blanks from 3, there it was a semblance of a match.
Then slowly the differences were seen, Zizic dictated the law in the area taking advantage of Micic’s inventions, for a long time off-center in shooting. Segafredo’s attack was constantly in trouble against an Efes who often played with very small quintets, but were quick to double Shengelia’s low post game, never in the game today.
Don’t mislead the final figures, made up of 29 points in the final fraction in the first leg. A step forward compared to Tel Aviv even if the result hasn’t changed, but today no one was hurt, not a little given the trend.
Scariolo starts without a center role (Mickey in place 5) and drives in Hackett’s hand, Ataman plays without a 4 role “adapting” Clyburn alongside 3 pure wingers with Larkin running up. Toko for Mickey, and after 80′ always behind, Virtus sees an advantage in the Euroleague. Cold hands, Virtus holds up with the defense and hooks of the former Zenit from the center of the area, with the changeover the game comes alive with dunks in a row, Bako-Zizic. Even very small quintets are suitable, Weems from 4, Beli from 3, the equal to 13 after 10′ draws a Virtus that tries without fear. Of course, 1/12 from 3 Efes helps, as does the rebound, but Efes plays small with Pleiss in the center, often behind the 3 line.
Zizic shuffles the game, the former M’Baye widens the gap, the Efes defense picks up and the attack stops, reaching double digits after 14′. Virtus reacts, restarting with Mickey and a partial of 0-7, sent back to the sender in the final in which the black Vs no longer frame the basket, including some trivia from Mannion. The -9 photographs an offensive part in constant pain without ever opening the box (2/13 from 3), little danger (1/1 for free), while behind he stood on the two chiaroscuro (2 Larkin, 1 Micic), suffering from Zizic (10), to which Mickey (11+2 blocks) and Bako responded with smashes.
Scoring remains a utopia, the defense also holds up but is unable to put a lid on the basket, reaching -17 with 2 points on the scoresheet in over 5′. We dance on that gap for a long time, Virtus doesn’t give in but doesn’t even find lights, the -22 at the last break is the result of sad 11 points on the scoresheet resulting from 4/12 from the field and 6 losses.
2 triples in a row by Mannion seem to tell of a game that is getting closer, but all canceled in a few moments by an overflowing Zizic who pushes the gap away from what has been seen for a long time, up to -26. Ataman gives space to many except Singleton, Mannion finds points against a much softer defense that fix the gap at -19.
Next match will be Sunday at 18:00 in LBA in Trieste, streaming on Eleven Sport and RadioNettunoBologna1.
The tebellino
Anadolu Efes Istanbul-Virtus Segafredo Bologna 86-67
(13-13 36-27 60-38)
Anadolu Efes Istanbul: Larkin 5, Beaubois 10, Singleton and Bryant 13, Gazi 3, Clyburn 5, Arna, Tuncer and Pleiss 14, Micic 7, M’Baye 5, Zizic 24. All.re Ataman.
Virtus Segafredo Bologna: Mannion 17, Belinelli 10, Bako 6, Lundberg 3, Shengelia 3, Hackett 2, Menalo n.e. Mickey 11, Camara, Weems 2, Ojeleye 13. All.re Scariolo.
Referees: Pukl, Kardum, Clivaz.
Luke Cocchi (©BasketCity.net)
