At the Segafredo Arena Bologna won 83-69 thanks to the excellent performances of Polonara and Tucker
The return round of the Euroleague starts in the best way for Virtus: at the Segafredo Arena the Vu Nere crush Villeurbanne 83-69. Despite the significant absences (an ulcer continues to keep Shengelia on the bench, while Hackett is out with a sprain in his left knee), Ivanovic’s team appears in total control throughout the match, limiting an Asvel team that is visibly not fit without any worries. evening. The entire Juventus collective works great: Polonara stands out on the scoreboard with 17 points and 9 rebounds, but the most positive is perhaps Tucker who, although not shining for offensive production, continually shows off with many plays of pure energy on both sides of the field. On the other hand, however, we see little or nothing outside of Maledon (still the best scorer with 20 points). It is the fifth victory in 18 games for Virtus, who are now called upon to follow up on today’s performance if they want to play their chances of reaching the play-in zone.
GREAT START VIRTUS
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It couldn’t have started better than this. Virtus takes the field organized and offers an asphyxiating defense, which concedes little or nothing in transition and favors several recoveries (just 7 points for Asvel with 6 turnovers in the first 10′). Things work well in the other half too, the circulation of the ball creates the right spacing, which especially rewards Polonara and Clyburn. The excellent game plan holds up even when the second lines are triggered: after the failed transfer to Reyer, Tucker wants redemption and demonstrates it by doing many small fundamental things on both sides of the pitch, while Morgan shows his usual bravado by burning the French from long distance. And so, with a run of 8-0, Virtus also took a +18 advantage (25-7). The cold shower wakes up Maledon, who with his offensive baggage brings Asvel into the match late, but the music doesn’t change much. The first half belongs to the Black Vu, who return to the locker room ahead 46-29.
TOTAL CONTROL
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Good news also in the second half: the match script remains unchanged, the Vu Nere continue to grind out points, while at the same time conceding very little. Segafredo’s maximum advantage increases from action to action, reaching +25 on a score of 56-31. It’s pure Virtus domination, and the photograph of the excellent Juventus evening shows Rayjon Tucker in the foreground who, despite the numerous points lead, continues to expend all his energy on every possession. There is clearly also Polonara, who in addition to inflating the retina with great precision (4/7 from the field and 7/8 from the line) also towers in rebounding. For the entire second half it was just a matter of administration, and Ivanovic’s men carried out the task admirably: despite some late flashes from Asvel, Virtus won by a landslide 83-69.
Virtus: Polonara 17, Clyburn 13, Morgan and Diouf 10
Asvel: Maledon 20, Sako 12, De Colo and Roberson 8
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