Virtus Bologna vs Tortona: LBA Playoffs Update

Tortona’s first quarter is objectively bad. The defensive system, tested by the most prolific attack in the championship, is creaking underneath 29 very heavy points conceded. And coach Mario Fioretti is forced, inevitably, to draw with full hands from the bench and the supporting players. The slow work of wear and tear on the hips begins to bear serious fruit in the third period, where Bertram puts the arrow on +3 at the last break, and finds total expression in a final won and managed by a very curious line-up. Out Ezra Manjon (0 in 13′, inadmissible), out Christian Vital (15 in 19 minutes but ridden very little in the second half), out Dominik Olejniczakbecause the physical and dirty challenge with Amedeo Tessitori in the first part of the match leaves room for a more modern, rapid and dynamic basketball. Where spacing, ability to read and move the ball make, as always, the difference.

Tortona lights up at the start of the second half with a boiling blaze of Justin Gorham (12), exploded suddenly after a silent first half, flies away with the bombs of Prentiss Hubb (17 with 5/10 from three), who engages in a splendid duel with the furious RJ Cole (26) and the stabs of Tommaso Baldasso (16), extraordinary in changing pace and balance every time he gets off the bench. But there’s also a huge dose of wingmanship, with the ubiquitous dark work of Andrea Pecchia, the imperishable substance of Paul Biligha (8) and, above all, the long-awaited exploit of Brekkott Chapman (13), who finds the perfect evening to score his first double figure of the year (with an obvious season-high).

Reyer pays for the drop in percentages after the excellent start (only 8/31 from three, 26%) and, more generally, the inability to match the amount of energy put forward by the opponent, who is more lively and lucid in crunch time. The heroisms of RJ Cole, author of a Homeric game, are accompanied for two full quarters by the physique of Amedeo Tessitori (double-double with 14+10 rebounds) and with a good initial impact of Carl Wheatle (12), but they don’t find much else to collaborate with in times of need. With Ky Bowman present almost for honor of signature, Venice has poor contributions from Kyle Wiltjer (only 6 points with 2/8 from the field), well contained by the Juventus defense, and by Denzel Valentine (11), unable to give continuity to a start with which he seemed destined to be all the rage for the entire match. But it won’t be like that.

Umana Reyer Venezia-Bertram Derthona Tortona 87-95

Venezia: Cole 26, Wiltjer 6, Valentine 11, Tessitori 14, Parks 9; Horton 9, De Nicolao, Wheatle 12, Nikolic. No: Lever, Janelidze. All.: Spahija.

Tortona: Vital 15, Gorham 13, Manjon, Strautins 5, Olejniczak 6; Hubb 17, Pecchia 3, Chapman 13, Baldasso 16, Biligha 8. Ne: Tandia, Risma. All.: Fioretti.

I 28 points of the first half, fouled by a horrendous 1/14 from the arc, they transform into 83 at the final siren. Virtus shoots some 30 in the third period aloneopened with a partial of 19-3 which freezes, in the bud, every slightest hope of upset and coup that emerged at half-time in the Neapolitan locker room. Even without Alessandro Pajola, Alen Smailagic and Daniel Hackett, lost in the second period due to a muscle problem, Bologna has an immense quiver to draw from. AND an energy charge coming off the bench which, sometimes, can make the difference even more than the quality of the individuals.

The game changes when Napoli deludes itself with the triple of +8 by Savion Flagg (30-38), his first basket of a shady evening. Virtus responds with Euroleague style. Aggressive defense which exalts coach Dusko Ivanovic. Ability to turn every rebound or steal into deadly runs on the counterattack. Contagious enthusiasm that feeds itself in a virtuous circuit on both sides of the pitch. And the difficulties of the first dry 20′ are soon forgotten, erased with a wipe of the sponge.

Naples seems to quickly disunite at the first difficulty, sunk by the sadness of Aamir Simms (6 points with 2/13), from the total derailment of Leonardo Tote (9+9 rebounds but disappeared after the good start) and by the nonsense of Naz Mitrou-Long, who amasses dramatic numbers for a starting point guard, a shadow of the sensational player seen a few years ago in Brescia (yes 10 rebounds and 5 assists, but also 6 turnovers, 2/7 shooting and 4 fouls). Instead, hoisted by the plays of Rasir Bolton (18), returned to strike after a fiery first quarter with 11 points, and Ishmael El-Amin (16), Guerri sews up and stays in the wake, absorbing at least two more shoulder blows. Then, on the fourth, he goes to the ground, with no escape.

The Virtus steps away by starting the engine Saliou Niang (13) e Momo Diouf (10+14 rebounds), the real game-changers on a physical and emotional level. Once the channel has been traced, here we enter Aliou Diarra (8), Luca Vildoza (5+7 assists, invaluable on an evening with a thin back court) Derrick Alston (16) and, obviously, Carsen Edwardstop scorer with 24 points. His first half is a hymn to non-basketball, made up of bad readings and forced series. But the ex-Bayern player is a man with a steely exterior. He knows how to wait for his moment. And, when he smells blood… tac! He’s ready to bite. His recovery, played with the character of a true Euroleague bomber, is crowned by two baskets for the final decisive breakthrough. He will finish with 9/24, a percentage that can be reviewed, but the specific weight of the baskets counts, not the size.

Virtus Olidata Bologna-Guerri Napoli 83-73

Bologna: Vildoza 5, Edwards 24, Jallow 1, Diouf 10, Akele 2; Niang 13, Alston 16, Hackett, Morgan 4, Diarra 8. What: Ferrari, Accorsi. All.: Ivanovic.

Napoli: Flagg 8, Mitrou-Long 9, Simms 6, Totè 9, Bolton 18; El-Amin 16, Faggian, Treier 3, Gentile 2, Caruso 2. Ne: Gloria, Esposito. All.: Skinny.

Curry is close to 60 million, then Embiid and Jokic: the Top 10 highest paid

Video credit: Eurosport