Despite 5/26 from three, Bologna wins on the Masnago pitch. Vildoza decisive
The sixth day opens with Virtus’ success in Varese: Ivanovic’s team wins a very complicated match thanks to an aggressive finish, driven by the power of Jallow and Niang. But Vildoza is the real factor, with 9 assists and 5 steals. It is precisely with recoveries that Bologna makes the difference (16 out of 23 lost by Varese), despite the team’s 5/26 from 3. Sponda Varese, despite 18 offensive rebounds and the excellent performances of Iroegbu, Nkamhoua and Librizzi, too many inaccuracies are worth the fifth consecutive defeat. In Masnago it ends 77-83, with Virtus going alone at the top of the table for one night.
the match
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The match started slowly, with both teams looking for the 3-point shot. They didn’t see much of the basket at the start (4-7 after 5′), and the turning point for Openjobmetis came with the entrances of Librizzi and Alviti, who immediately warmed up from 3 (they combined for 4/4). Alviti scores 9 points in the first quarter alone and Librizzi’s second triple makes it 23-14, sealing a 15-0 run. The game, however, turns in the second quarter: Varese begins to lose balls in series (there will be 14 at the end of the first half), with Virtus flying on the counterattack. Kastritis’ team scores just 5 points from 10′ to 17′, and stops scoring from 3 (7/21 after 5/10 at the start). Bologna thanks them and goes up to +8 (28-36 at 18′) but doesn’t escape completely, thanks to the terrible percentages from 3 (2/14). At halftime it’s 35-39, and for Varese it’s a deal.
vildoza closes it
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Openjobmetis, in fact, remains clinging to the match, with Virtus continuing to argue with the 3-point shot: the match returns to balance (45-45 at 25′) and Alviti’s fourth triple gives the home team a new lead (54-53 at 30′). Ivanovic’s team, after a terrible 2/21 from behind the arc, wakes up when the ball starts to get hot: Jallow first and Edwards then respond to Nkamhoua and Iroegbu (the latter unleashed in the second half), then Niang and – above all – Alston package the victory. The blue scores the free throws, the American takes the offensive rebound and makes the triple to make it 72-78 1′ from the siren. The icing on the cake, then, is put by Vildoza: fifth stolen ball of his game, and Niang closes it on the line.
Varese: Iroegbu 17, Nkamhoua 17, Alviti 16
Bologna: Jallow 17, Niang 17, Edwards 15
the program
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Below is the rest of the program for the sixth day:
- Wednesday 5: Brescia-Milan, Naples-Trapani
- Thursday 6: Sassari-Cantù, Cremona-Trento
- Friday 7: Udine-Venice, Reggio Emilia-Treviso
- Wednesday 12: Trieste-Tortona
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