Euroleague: Virtus Bologna beats Efes Istanbul

You can’t go to PalaDozza. Virtus is 4/4 at home, beating Efes 99-89 and raising its head after three consecutive away defeats. Bologna’s offensive continuity was decisive, finishing with crazy numbers in attack (20/25 from 2, 18/34 from 3). Edwards was excellent, scoring 21 points, and Smailagic scored 17. Larkin’s 25 were not enough for Efes, who received their third consecutive knockout in Europe, the sixth in 10 matches. Fifth success for Ivanovic’s men, who will fly to Barcelona on Friday.

excellent attacks

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Balanced start at PalaDozza, Virtus finds rhythm in transition and takes advantage of the space in the area granted by Efes (12-7 at 4′). Kokoskov’s men react driven by an extraordinary Larkin, who closed the first half with 14 points (4/5 from 3) and 4 assists. It’s the pick and roll with which the guests’ American with a Turkish passport triggers the long shots Dessert and Osmani to create problems for the Bolognese defense (which concedes 7 offensive rebounds to the opponents in the 20th minute). However, Ivanovic’s men move the ball well and score a lot of 3-pointers (7/16, like Efes, in the 20th minute). After many minutes of great pace, in which the attacks did better than the defences, towards the end of the first half the teams slowed down for a few moments and relied on individuality. Kokoskov alternates man and zone and blocks the home team’s attack, who rely on an outburst from Edwards (5 points in a row). The former Bayern player scores on penetration and then makes a stop and a 3-pointer (46-42 in the 18th minute). Larkin responds with the same coin by scoring from the arc (46-45). Yet another ball to serve the cuts of the big men, allows Diouf to close at the rim (48-45 at 28” from 20′).

SMAILAGIC AND EDWARDS SUPER

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Upon returning from the locker rooms, Virtus tries to make the first push into the match, taking advantage of penetrations to the rim and cuts from the weak side to hurt Efes, in addition to the usual 3-point percentages. After a triple by Smailagic in the 26th minute, Bologna is ahead by 7 points (70-63). Smits’ movements in the area and the usual Larkin, who shoots from 3, create some problems for Bologna in the defensive phase. The third is Smailagic’s fourth, 3 rings from beyond the arc and a lot of excellent defensive work, but the widespread talent allows the Turks to stay in touch (75-71 at 28′) after Hazer’s 1/2 on the line. Nobody manages to take control, as evidenced by the partial of the third period (28 all). Virtus begins the last 10′ by trying to escape again, after a basket in the area by Diouf, Morgan lights up and scores two consecutive triples (86-77 at 32′). Efes concedes fewer easy receptions to Ivanovic’s men, capitalizes on Osmani’s cuts and punishes from 6.75 with Weiler-Babb (86-82 in the 34th minute). Edwards tries to give Virtus back momentum with a triple (89-82 in the 36th minute). The American’s play unleashes the hosts, who make their opponents pay for a couple of forced attacks, placing Jallow and Vildoza’s transitions on the glass (93-82 in the 37th minute). What made the difference in the final minutes was the quality of the changes made by the Virtus defence. Thanks to the aggressiveness under their scoreboard, Bologna attacks with pace and scores again from the arc with the usual Smailagic and Edwards (99-85 in the 38th minute). It ends in celebration for the people of Bologna who honor Richardson’s memory in the best possible way.

Virtus Bologna: Edwards 21, Smailagic 17, Morgan 13.

Efes Istanbul: Larkin 25, Osmani 16, Loyd 11.