VIRTUS OLIDATA BOLOGNA – BERTRAM DERTHONA TORTONA 92-77 (20-20, 48-35; 80-57)
Virtus celebrates BeliNight with a resounding success. In the evening in celebration of the former captain Belinelli, Virtus had no difficulty in beating a dull Tortona. The Olidata attack, and the Juventus fans, had fun in front of Bertram’s defenseless defence, which confirmed itself as one of the worst rearguards in the LBA. The success has strong blue hues because among the best on the pitch it is impossible not to mention Diouf (double double of 15 points and 12 rebounds) and Niang (14 points, 9 rebounds and 29 rating). At the end of the match Taylor and Canka were also seen on the pitch. Tonight everything worked.
News: Vildoza and Diarra out. These are the choices of Ivanovic, who recovers Taylor, for BeliNight. As against Dubai, Alston’s start to the game was more than positive. The same cannot be said of Edwards who started off particularly foully. Bertram’s attack is supported by Vital who immediately scores 8 points, before committing three fouls. Fioretti must therefore also sip one of its main leaders. From the bench Tortona draws Strautins, who scores five consecutive points, then for the last action of the first quarter Edwards returns, just in time to score the triple (in the table) of parity, at 20, in the tenth.
Tortona, with Chapman and Pecchia, hurt Virtus almost only from long range. Alston and Edwards don’t want to be outdone and so the game, in the second quarter, becomes a three-point shooting contest, perhaps in honor of Marco Belinelli.
When Olidata begins to tighten its defense and recover balls, Bertram struggles to stay in contact. After just over 15 minutes of play, Virtus gained their first double-digit lead (41 – 31). Niang struggles with free throws tonight and needs five attempts to straighten his aim. However, the former Trento player makes himself useful in other ways by giving a big hand in rebounding. 48 – 35 at halftime.
Vital returns to the parquet, after a long forced rest, and immediately finds his feeling with the basket. The one who has a constant performance from the first minute is Diouf who collects a double double already in the third quarter. The castle of Tortona begins to collapse too soon, unable to contain the Bolognese offensives. Fioretti finds extemporaneous jolts only from the usual Vital. Morgan scores 11 points in the third quarter of the game, including the triple at the siren at the end of the quarter. 80 – 57 in the 30th minute.
On +26 (87 – 61) Taylor tastes the parquet again with a clearly recognizable one bulb a la Moochie Norris. A few minutes later Ivanovic makes Canka’s championship debut. It’s a sign that the game is now sealed and that the final result is not in question. Niang also hits three-pointers showing a truly vast arsenal, his evening was one to remember. Three minutes from the end Polonara gets up, having also come to celebrate his ex-teammate Belinelli, to leave the building. The Virtus Arena joins in a long and sincere applause that sends this match into the annals. It ends 92 – 77.
Scoreboard
VIRTUS OLIDATA BOLOGNA – BERTRAM DERTHONA TORTONA 92-77 (20-20, 48-35; 80-57)
BOLOGNA: Edwards 13; Pajola 3; Niang 14; Smailagic 7; Taylor 0; Alston 11; Canka 0; Hackett 4; Morgan 19; Jallow 4; Diouf 15; Akele 2. All. Ivanovic
TORTONA: Vital 14; Hubb 9; Gorham 7; Pecchia 9; Chapman 9; Belinaso NE; Tandia 0; Strautins 9; Baldasso 5; Olejniczak 12; Biligha 0; Riisma 3. All. Fioretti
