Nice victory for the Bolognese team led by the blue team. The Della Valle-Bilan pairing is not enough for Germani
Olidata wins the high-ranking match at the Virtus Arena against Brescia (86-76) and sends a signal to the championship, climbing to the top of the table. The defensive solidity of Ivanovic’s men was decisive. Bologna enjoys the total performance of a fantastic Pajola (17 points, 3/5 from 3). The partial of the third quarter directs the match (25-15, with 5/8 from 3 for Olidata). Cotelli’s team pays for the bad percentages from 3 (7/33). Hackett performed excellently (10 points and 6 rebounds). 33 points from the Della Valle-Bilan duo were not enough for Germani.
balance
—
The rematch of last season’s final series begins with great balance. Brescia started better by taking advantage of its pick and rolls in transition to put Della Valle in rhythm, who scored 11 points in 10′. Olidata responds with talented bursts from Edwards, right from the start, from distance. In the second quarter, the Lioness roars for the first time and escapes to +8, after a 3-point play by an excellent Massinburg. The roots of this break are to be found in the reading of Cotelli, who launches a more muscular quintet, without Della Valle and Bilan, to run more in transition and create advantages in one-on-one situations, enhancing the qualities of the aforementioned Texan guard. A triple without rhythm from Edwards reignites Virtus (30-31 at 16′), after a few moments of offensive fogging, in which they relied on the play of the individuals. A couple of baskets from Hackett give confidence to the Italian champions (35-33 at 18′), who defend better on the pick and roll. Brescia is not supported by the percentages from outside in the first half (4/16).
change of pace
—
A couple of triples from Edwards launch Bologna at the start of the second half (50-43 at 22′). Virtus identifies advantages better and makes opponents pay for the physical gap, attacking with more order. First a basket from Niang and then a three-point play from Diouf put Olidata up 12 (57-45 at 24′). The key to Bologna’s escape is the very intense defense made up of substitutions, guaranteed above all by the presence of Hackett and Pajola on the parquet at the same time. Diouf’s work in the two phases of the game was also invaluable. The 5/8 from 3 of Ivanovic’s men in the third period was decisive. Germani struggled to attack and was forced to make forced shots. Even at the beginning of the fourth period the script of the match remained similar, but Brescia found the reaction of pride that was missing at the start of the second half and returned to -9 (71-62 at 33′). However, Virtus remains in control, thanks to the defense. Pajola and Akele’s counterattacks set the Black Vs’ new +13. (75-62 at 35′). The last minutes are pure management for Bologna, who catches up and overtakes the Lombards at the top of the table.
Virtus: Pajola 17, Edwards 16, Hackett 10
Brescia: Della Valle 20, Burnell 19, Bilan 13
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED