By Cesare Milanti / info@eurohoops.net
After lifting the 2021-22 EuroCup and coming back to the EuroLeague, Virtus Bologna was waiting for a win in the highest stage that had been missing for almost 15 years. The wait is now over, as the black-and-white Italian team beat Bayern Munich 66-63 in an electrifying PalaDozza arena with the guests missing the last chance to send the game to overtime with a three.
In the second EuroLeague appearance with his new team, Iffe Lundberg produced an offensive clinic of 13 points, controlling the tempo and being the main leader of Sergio Scariolo’s team on the court. Jordan Mickey went close to a double-double with 6 points and 10 rebounds.
“It was a tough ending and I am happy we fought our way through the game”, admitted Lundberg. “I am super-proud of my team and for the first EuroLeague win of the club after so many years”.
Daniel Hackett, who played under Trinchieri and was a teammate of Augustine Rubit at Brose Bamberg during the 2017-18 EuroLeague season, finished the game with 8 points, after a hot start in the first minutes of the game.
This was also Milos Teodosic’s first EuroLeague game since the 2016-17 third-place game between CSKA Moscow and Real Madrid, on the 21st of May 2017. In his first EuroLeague appearance with Virtus Bologna, the Serbian veteran had 9 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 turnovers.
“We are happy to have clinched the first Euroleague win after so many years. Even though it was a very close game against a playoff experience team, we kinda deserved to be up at the end. We had to probably win it a couple of times, we forced them to find bad shots. Bayern, as we knew, is a very well-prepared team, they have a lot of tough and competitive players. The attitude of the team was excellent”, coach Sergio Scariolo said in the post-game press conference.
Nick Weiler-Babb stepped up on offense for Bayern with an all-around performance of 16 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals, shooting 4/7 from the perimeter. Vladimir Lucic added 15 points, while Othello Hunter had 5 points and 8 rebounds.
“I believe it was a very extremely physical game. Without having a good night on offense, I believe we were solid on defense. We played with character on defense and we improved a lot from the last game. We had four very bad minutes between the third and fourth quarters when we lost confidence. We had an open shot to tie the game, so we made one solid step as improvement”, coach Andrea Trinchieri said in the post-game press conference.
Virtus coach Sergio Scariolo didn’t have Awudu Abass, who is recovering from a knee injury, and Toko Shengelia, who is out indefinitely due to a shoulder injury. The Spanish national team head coach decided to sideline Michele Ruzzier, Leo Menalo, and Gora Camara.
Andrea Trinchieri didn’t have his full roster available as well, with Issac Bonga, Elias Harris, and Zan Mark Sisko out.
After a pretty balanced first half (34-32), in which Bayern Munich managed to reduce the gap created at the beginning of the game, Virtus Bologna increased the intensity on both sides of the floor leading even by 13 (64-51).
Still, Bayern made the comeback and had the chance to even send the game to overtime, but Hunter and Lucic missed their last shots.
PHOTO CREDIT: Virtus Segafredo Bologna