Virtus escapes from Barça in the second half
Grimau’s men had a good first half, executed by Lundberg in a direct duel
MADRID, 6 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Barça lost (80-75) against Virtus Bologna this Wednesday on matchday 12 of the Euroleague despite a solid and effective first half, surpassed by the Italian team in the second half to remain in a direct duel at the top of the board.
Gabriel Lundberg (21 points) and Tornike Shengelia (14 and 9 rebounds) were the protagonists of the reaction of a Virtus that demonstrated its good campaign. The Italian team achieved its eighth European victory, one behind a Barça team that let the match slip away after going 16 up in the first half.
Roger Grimau’s men made a complicated start easy at times, drying up the strong points of Virtus, a team that could barely run or have any play inside in 20 minutes. Willy Hernangómez left with 11 points at halftime, decisive along with his success from medium or long distance.
Almost everything went to Barça in the first two quarters, looking for the high percentage of Jan Vesley or the triples of Nicolás Laprovittola or Álex Abrines. With a visiting team shining in all facets, Bologna, with 11 losses at halftime, barely found respite in Daniel Hackett and Isais Cordinier.
After the break, Grimau’s team allowed the Italians to awaken, led by Shengelia who retaliated in the third quarter with nine points (56-61). The Virtus plugged in, with more players ready for battle like Mascolo, Belinelli, Mickey or Lundberg who gave the final blow to the match.
Barça took refuge in Vesley and Laprovittola, but far from the version that the Bologna Arena had silenced. A three-pointer by Satoransky was the decisive factor for Barça to regain control on the scoreboard (74-75) with less than a minute left, but a couple of actions by Hackett and Lundberg, from the three-point range, cut the wings of Grimau’s team.
DATASHEET.
–RESULT: VIRTUS BOLONIA, 80 – BARÇA, 75. (33-45, at half-time).
–EQUIPMENT.
VIRTUS BOLONIA: Hackett (14), Belinelli (8), Cordinier (10), Shengelia (14) y Dunston (1) –inicial quintet–; Smith (-), Lundberg (21), Dobric (2), Cacok (-), Mascolo (2), Mickey (8).
BARÇA: Satoransky (9), Laprovittola (9), Kalinic (7), Da Silva (3) and Vesely (13) –starting quintet–; Brizuela (9), Abrines (6), Parker (4), Paulí (-), Hernangómez (15), Jokubaitis (-).
–PARTIALS: 18-24, 15-21, 23-16, 24-14.
–REFEREES: Lottermoser, Foufis and Boubert. Abrines eliminated due to fouls.
–PAVILLION: Virtus Segafredo Arena.
2023-12-06 21:45:56
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