By Cesare Milanti/ info@eurohoops.net
After a pretty balanced game throughout the first thirty minutes (65-63), Partizan Belgrade escaped from Bologna with an important 88-79 win against Virtus, one of the contenders for a spot in the playoff picture.
Dante Exum played an all-around noteworthy game, ending with 17 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, and 4 steals for a PIR of 34. His career-high in this statistical voice stays at 35, against ASVEL in December 2022.
Kevin Punter, who played with Virtus Bologna in the 2018-19 season winning the Basketball Champions League, was the leading scorer for the black-and-white Serbian side, ending the game with 17 points. The shooting guard was followed by his fellow countryman James Nunnally, who scored 16.
“I believed that basketball needs games like tonight. It’s something really special for the EuroLeague. The game was tough, and we expected it. In halftime, we discussed and decided to change something, and in the last quarter, we took advantage. Our fans push us to fight, I don’t have words to thank them. It’s something really special”, Zeljko Obradovic said after the win.
Milos Teodosic, who is now 7th in the EuroLeague all-time assists list after surpassing Dimitris Diamantidis and 5th in the EuroLeague all-time three-pointers made list after overtaking Vassilis Spanoulis, produced a double-double of 11 points and 11 assists against the Serbians, but also had 7 turnovers.
As Tornike Shengelia couldn’t be part of the game due to chickenpox, Jordan Mickey spent some important minutes on the court. The former Real Madrid power forward had 13 points and 9 rebounds, being close to a double-double. Mam Jaiteh and Semi Ojeleye combined for 27 points and 9 rebounds.
“It has been a very good basketball game, with two teams which tried hard. Sometimes we had the upper hand, sometimes they had it. I can’t say anything about Partizan’s win. Dante Exum has shown why he has been such a good NBA player. My players went to the extreme point of their possibilities. Our physical players are mostly missing, as we saw today with Cordinier and Shengelia”, head coach Sergio Scariolo commented in the post-game press conference.
Other than Shengelia, Sergio Scariolo couldn’t count on Isaia Cordinier either because of a foot injury, while Zeljiko Obradovic just didn’t have Balsa Koprivica, who has been diagnosed with mononucleosis and is expected to be out indefinitely.
In the presence of a legend
Before the game, Virtus Bologna paid homage to Predrag “Sasha” Danilovic, a black-and-white hero of the Italian team from 1992 to 1995 and from 1997 to 2000, after his NBA experience with Dallas and Miami.
The Serbian superstar started his career with Partizan in 1988, playing under Zeljiko Obradovic and being named EuroLeague Final Four MVP in 1992.
In Round 28, Partizan Belgrade (15-12) will complete its double-game Italian week against EA7 Emporio Armani Milan, while Virtus Bologna (12-15) will travel to Berlin to face ALBA. Both games will be played on March 9 at two hours and a half distance from each other.
PHOTO CREDIT: KK Partizan Mozzart Bet