No remake of game 1: Virtus escapes immediately and manages to reach +29. The game ends 98-79 with 25 points from Edwards and a double double from Diouf. Game 3 Thursday at Taliercio
In Laguna we go with the series tied. Faced with the ravine represented by a second knockout, in game 2 Virtus Bologna swerves from the first moment and dominates Reyer Venezia 98-79. At the Fair, everything is going swimmingly for Jakovljevic’s team. Cynical, compact, lethal under the basket and with a Carsen Edwards in demon version, with 25 points and very high percentages such as 6/8 from three, while Paris stops at 6 points. A lethal mix that gave them a 20-point lead even before the long break, coming close to breaking the deadlock at the end after only conceding 12 points in the third period. Diouf was fundamental, the best in terms of rating (29) as a result of the double double of 18 points and 11 rebounds. In the paint the verdict is severe: 46-23 for the hosts. Game 3 Thursday at Taliercio.
Bologna-Venice 98-79
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Wiltjer’s instant triple could make you think of a remake of Game 1, but Bologna immediately runs away with Jallow and the work of his big men, who in the first quarter pulled down 11 rebounds against the opponents’ 3. Morgan’s accelerations pave the way towards the double-digit lead which becomes a chasm (+15) when Edwards starts with 8 points scored already at the first break despite starting from the bench. A precious advantage because Vildoza raises the white flag due to a hip problem and Vu Nere needs a few minutes to adjust. Valentine, however, gets stubborn and doesn’t make an impact, sitting on the bench, so a basket from Hackett is enough to launch the definitive escape up to +22 (59-37) the result of a great defense and three almost photocopy baskets from Diarra against a rearguard that is instead failing.
without history
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Diouf and Niang continue to fly, Tessitori misses a free throw. Parks and Wiltjer stop, granting Virtus the restarts of +27 (74-47) just when a reaction is needed. Bologna settles down, Diouf misses two free throws and Diarra is thrown out for the second technical, but Niang’s defense and Edwards’ sixth triple keep the score almost unchanged in the 29th minute, at 79-54. He too, six minutes later, writes 29 points of separation between the two teams, at 88-59. In the timeout Spahija asks his team to close at their best and they listen to him, winning the last period 25-16. The head, however, is now in game 3.
Bologna: Edwards 25, Diouf 18, Diarra 12
Venice: Wiltjer 14, Tessitori 12, De Nicolao 10
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