Euroleague: Virtus Bologna-Asvel Villeurbanne 70-80

Virtus suffered a very heavy defeat, falling 70-80 at home against last-placed Asvel on the 26th day of the Euroleague. Bologna, in their third consecutive home defeat, paid dearly for the absences of Diouf, Pajola and Morgan, and was unable to hold their own against the great athleticism of the French. The physical gap translates into 17 offensive rebounds captured by Poupet’s team compared to 6 by Vu-Nere, a decisive figure to explain Asvel’s victory (the first away of the season). Watson launches the shots for the decisive extension in the 4th period and Ndiaye is irrepressible under the basket, while Virtus’s 20-point Edwards is not enough to achieve the comeback.

offensive rebounds

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Two numbers are enough to describe all of Virtus’ difficulties in the first half: the 9 offensive rebounds conceded and the 10 turnovers. Already in the first minutes Ivanovic’s team appears to be struggling, and the 6 consecutive points on the counterattack are just an illusion. The French took advantage of Bologna’s turnovers and attacked the rim with Ndiaye and Vautier, who made the most of their physical gap against the Vu-Nere’s adapted centres. The 17-21 with which the 1st quarter ends expands to 25-38 in the 18th minute, still with the same recipe: physicality, offensive rebounds, one-on-one played by Angola. Virtus, however, remained in the game thanks to their opponents’ poor percentages from 3 (4/19) and free throws (5/12), and returned to the locker room down 33-43.

illusion

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In the interval Ivanovic makes himself heard, and Bologna returns to the field with a much more intense defensive attitude: he forces Poupet’s team into 7 turnovers in the 3rd quarter alone, fights more under the scoreboards, and is fired up in attack by Edwards. Virtus brought everything back into balance with an 11-0 run, but entered the last 10 minutes down 54-55 due to a feat by Watson, who launched Asvel’s new attack, scoring 10 points in the first 5 minutes of the 4th period. At this point, Virtus’s remaining energy is running low, and the French return to asserting their physical strength and intensity in both halves of the field: 5 consecutive points from Eboua make it 63-74 with 2′ to go, and the Watson-Ndiaye alley-oop extinguishes Bologna’s last gasp with 30” on the clock.

Virtus: Edwards 20, Diarra 10, Vildoza 9

Asvel: Watson 19, Ndiaye 16, Angola 15