On the evening dedicated to Marco Belinelli, the Vu Nere celebrated with a solid team performance (26 assists). New signing Stewart is Openjobmetis’ best scorer in the victory in Cremona (19 points)
The competition changes, but not the habits of Virtus, who continue to win at home and honor Marco Belinelli in the best possible way, who was honored before the match. Ivanovic’s men annihilate Tortona (92-77), playing a great team effort (26 total assists). Bologna returns to the top of the table and prepares as best as possible for the next two matches, which will see them playing against Hapoel Tel Aviv in the Euroleague on Friday and against Milan at the Forum on Sunday evening. Excellent match by Morgan who scores 19. Second consecutive defeat for Bertram, who slips to fifth place in the standings. Varese passes to the PalaRadi in Cremona, 79-87 and confirms its feeling with the derbies. The second victory in the last three is always against a Lombard opponent, it had already happened with Cantù too. Decisive 19 points from the new addition Stewart Jr, lethal in transition and from the arc. Vanoli pays for the 30 points conceded in the fourth period and receives the second knockout in a row in the championship, the third in the last four outings. Openjobmetis rises to 12th place in the standings with 3 victories in Serie A. 16 points from Willis and 13 from Casarin are not enough for Brotto.
VIRTUS- TORTONA 92-77
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After a good start, the match for Fioretti’s men became complicated due to 3 fouls by Vital in the first 10′. Virtus takes advantage of the absence of the best scorer in the championship and runs away. The 20-3 partial that gave the Black Vu control of the match came thanks to a very aggressive defense, which forced Hubb alone into 7 turnovers (out of a total of 10 by the guests in the 20th minute). Bologna shoots well from the field (6/16 from 3 and 12/22 from 2 at halftime), moves the ball well (12 assists in the 20th minute) and plays with great intensity, recovering 7 balls in the 20th minute. Ivanovic’s men often attack in transition with Edwards and Alston and take advantage of Niang’s cuts and Diouf’s physicality (44-31 at 17′). Olidata goes for offensive rebounds effectively (10 in the 20th minute, 24 in total, compared to Bertram’s 18). Chapman’s triples were not enough for Tortona, who scored very little from 2. Ivanovic’s men started again as they finished, with great sharing of the ball and many cuts in transition. Thanks to the movements of Niang and Morgan, the home team continued to score and manage the game (68-51 at 27′): Bologna had 32 points in the third quarter. In the fourth period, Virtus manages the situation and takes home their seventh consecutive victory in Serie A.
Virtus: Morgan 19, Diouf 15, Niang 14
Tortona: Vital 14, Olejniczak 12, Chapman, Pecchia, Strautins 9
CREMONA-VARESE 79-87
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The PalaRadi race is full of tears in its early stages. Cremona gets off to a better start, running in transition and moving the ball, finishing with Ndiaye, Willis and Durham (11-0 after 4′). From the 5th minute onwards the script of the match changes, Vanoli gets stuck in attack and loses balls (6 in the 10th minute), while Openjobmetis grows defensively and with a 7-0 break, signed by the debutant Stewart, on the counterattack and from the arc, and the baskets of an excellent Alviti tied (14 all at 8′). The good moment for the guests also continues in the second quarter (17-25 after a 3-point play by Nkamhoua). In the following moments, Brotto’s men come back, defending better and building good shots and the match is back to a draw (27-27). The hosts started better again in the second half, scoring from 3 with Casarin and Veronesi and flying to +8 but Iroegbu and Moore kept Varese in their wake. In the last 10′ the inertia changes again, Openjobmetis with a 10-0 run, resulting from the recoveries of Iroegbu and Alviti and the penetrations of an excellent Stewart. Casarin at the rim tries to keep Vanoli alive (67-73 at 36′), but the usual Stewart also scores the triple for +9, which closes the game.
Cremona: Willis 19, Casarin 13, Ndiaye 12
Varese: Stewart 19, Alviti 17, Iroegbu 16
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