Italian Basketball Cup Final Eight: Virtus Bologna beats Naples

Virtus Bologna can continue to dream of the Italian Cup. Ivanovic’s team turns the game around by changing gear in the second half and takes an 83-73 success against Napoli in the last match of the quarterfinals. On Saturday at 8.45pm they will face Tortona in the semi-final. On the other side of the Turin draw (6pm) there are Milan and Brescia. Edwards comes out at a distance and is decisive with 24 points (but only one triple) together with the long Virtussini – against a good Totè – and the surgical Alston. Niang scores 13 points, Diarra 8 while Diouf exaggerates with a double double of 10 points and 14 rebounds, 6 of which are offensive. Napoli is supported by the shots of the Bolton-El-Amin duo, with 18 and 16 points each, and has the merit of never giving up.

Virtus-Napoli 83-73

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Virtus does not score for the first 3 minutes, leaving the reins to their opponents, who however do not escape. Not even when Bolton is a phenomenon with 11 points in the first quarter shooting 3/4 from three, helped by Totè who immediately scores 5 points and 4 rebounds at the start. So as soon as Ivanovic’s team lines up two transitions, they manage to quickly catch up on their opponents and also find their first lead (23-22) after 14 minutes. But before the break Bologna got stuck again with 1 point in 3 minutes and coach Magro’s team took advantage of it to take an 8-point lead, set at the start of the second half by Flagg’s triple after the first two by El-Amin.

leak

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Virtus needs a shake-up: Niang and Vildoza take care of it by raising the pace of the game. The two put together a 9-0 break which then snowballed to 17-0 which turned the game on its head halfway through the third quarter, with the Black Vus going from -8 to +9, at 47-38, with Diouf and Edwards also starring. Napoli reacts and halves the deficit, getting even closer when the shot from outside works (especially that of El-Amin), but Bologna has now turned the corner, concedes very little in defense and gets closer to the basket, where Diarra also dominates. The solid defense in the middle and the rapid attacks are the recipe that leads to another virtuoso shoulder at the beginning of the fourth period, and then arriving at +7 (68-61) when Edwards turns on again. Napoli doesn’t get upset, stays in touch and gets back to -4 with triples, but Virtus is more solid and takes it home. Closing it with a triple from an Alston on a great evening which is worth +12 (80-68) in the 39th minute.

Virtus: Edwards 22, Alston 16, Niang 13 Naples: Bolton 18, El-Amin 16, Totè and Mitrou-Long 9