Bologna is now 2-1 down and has its back against the wall in the series. Bertram reopens the series
Too much Energy in the Dolomites for Virtus Bologna, reigning champions, now with their backs against the wall. Trento dominates game 3 (Steward 19) and earns the match point in game 4 in front of the home crowd. In Tortona Bertram (Vital 16) reignites the series and extinguishes Venice’s hopes of taking home the quarter-finals in three races.
Trento-Bologna 102-85
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The Eagle takes flight. Bologna never enters the game. And so the team that finished the regular season in eighth place took a 2-1 lead against the team that had signed as leaders, weakened by the important absences of Alston and Pajola. Virtus clings to Edwards and Smailagic, but already ends up 9 points down in the first quarter. The hosts have more energy, play more fluidly, defend with intensity and find open shots, rarely making mistakes in attack. And in fact we go to halftime at 51-38 for Energia Dolomiti, which already has three players in double figures: Steward 10 with high percentages and including the triple at the end of the first half, Battle 11 with 8/8 in free throws and Jogela 14 with 4/5 from beyond the arc. In the second half there is only Trento, who spreads to +20 and then beyond, Bologna fires blanks from the arc, Morgan scores the first basket from the field only in the last quarter, when a sudden 10-0 run for the Black Vs reopens the game. But it doesn’t last long. A couple of individual plays by Battle and Steward and Bologna surrendered, finishing with 7/27 from three. Trento, on the other hand, makes 18/23 free throws (after 4/7 in game 2), has 4 blocks as a team and enjoys Bayehe’s first double double of the season, 15 points and 10 rebounds. At the Bts Arena, in front of its own audience, Trento will now have the first match point to complete a sensational upset against the number one seed and reigning champion. A scenario that, at the beginning of the series (L’Aquila qualified for the playoffs on the last regular day), seemed difficult to imagine.
Trent: Steward 19, Jogela 18, Battle 16.
Bologna: Edwards 16, Niang, Smailagic and Dos Santos 14.
tortona-venice 82-71
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Tortona is still alive. Venezia resisted the return even without Olejniczak who was sent off in the second quarter for entering the field from the bench during a small scuffle between Cole and Hubb. He receives a lot of energy from Biligha, dishing out twice as many assists as Umana with half the opponent’s turnovers (8 to 16) and extending the series to game 4. The Piedmontese team remains in command of the match for almost all 40 minutes, finding a good run already in the second quarter (13-2), thanks to Venezia’s lack of streak in attack, 1/13 from the arc in the first half, starting from the best three-point shooter in the regular season in the championship Jordan Parks, who will finish with 0/10 on action. Starting from 43-31 at the break, Venezia seems to be back in the game in the second half, with a 23-15 run in the third quarter, rebounding dominance and important baskets from former player Candi. Reyer came within one possession several times but was never able to complete the comeback. In the last 10′ Tortona played almost like a cat and mouse, letting their opponents get closer and then regaining a good safe distance. Coach Fioretti relies on the low quintet with Gorham (8 rebounds) and Biligha (12+5), and it is the latter, together with the triples of Vital and Baldasso (6/13 between two) who put the signature in the final.
Tortona: Vital 16, Baldasso 13, Biligha 12.
Venice: Wheatle and Weavers 11, Cole and Bowman 10.
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