By Cesare Milanti/ info@eurohoops.net
It’s a game full of charm that brings back fond memories. At the same time, it’s a rivalry that has reemerged in recent years with legendary figures Ettore Messina and Sergio Scariolo facing each other on the respective benches.
On Wednesday night, EA7 Emporio Armani Milan will face Virtus Segafredo Bologna in Round 7 of the 2022-23 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. It’s the first game between the two Italian clubs on the continental stage in 25 years.
Both teams are currently out of the playoff zone with Milan riding in on a 3-3 record after a loss against Real Madrid and Virtus Bologna on a 2-4 record after losing at home against LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne in Round 6.
Let’s take a look back at the five most-thrilling clashes between Milan and Virtus played on the former’s home floor:
Simac Milano 74-77 Granarolo Bologna – G3 1983/84 Serie A Finals
Milan and Bologna dominated the Italian basketball scene in the 1950s, ending the season in the first two positions eight times in that decade. But when the Italian League championship started to be awarded through playoff series, they faced each other only twice: in 1978/79, when Virtus won 2-0, and in 1983/84. In that season, the rivalry reached its peak.
Coach Dan Peterson and superstar big man Dino Meneghin led Milan and Virtus relied on Roberto Brunamonti and Renato Villalta. After splitting the first two encounters, Granarolo Bologna captured a 77-74 victory in Game 3 on the road to conquer its 10th Scudetto.
Stefanel Milano 67-59 Kinder Bologna – G1 1996/97 EuroLeague Round of 16
After finishing atop Group E in the second round of the 1996/97 FIBA EuroLeague regular season against powerhouses such as ALBA Berlin, Olympiacos, Maccabi Tel Aviv, and CSKA Moscow, Stefanel Milano would face an opponent that qualified from fourth place in a corresponding group.
And guess what? Kinder Bologna from Group H would be that team. In Game 1, Coach Franco Marcelletti’s Milan was led by Gregor Fucka’s 23 points (photo) to win 67-59 and get a 1-0 advantage in the series.
Stefanel Milano 78-76 Kinder Bologna – G3 1996/97 EuroLeague Round of 16
Before Game 2, Bologna’s head coach Alberto Bucci was sacked and the black-and-white team managed to tie the series with an 83-76 win despite a monstrous double-double of 25 points and 16 rebounds by Warren Kidd.
In Game 3, however, defensive specialist Sandro De Pol forced Arijan Komazec into 1-for-6 shooting from the perimeter, while Flavio Portaluppi (photo) established a late 4-point lead with a dagger that didn’t let the opponents find a way to reduce the gap in the final minutes. Milan won 78-76, closed out the series 2-1, and advanced to the quarterfinals, where it lost against Smelt Olimpija Ljubljana.