By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Valencia snapped a three-game losing streak in EuroLeague to beat Virtus Bologna 79 – 68 at home in a clash between two teams that are eliminated from playoffs contention. This result put Valencia at a 15-18 record while Virtus is now 13-20.
In his best display with the Valencia jersey, Shannon Evans posted 15 points plus a game-high six assists to pace his team. Kyle Alexander added 14 points and Chris Jones scored 10 for the Taronja that were without captain Bojan Dubljevic and Klemen Prepelic
Semi Ojeleye led Virtus with EuroLeague career-high 21 points plus six rebounds while Mam Jaiteh scored 10. The Italian side suffered a 15-0 run in the beginning of the fourth period as the hosts turned a close game up until that moment to a ultimately a comfortable win.
“You always have to stay ready. We have a lot of games,” Evans said. “You don’t know which is going to be your night. You just work hard every day and when your time comes you play hard. We had a rough to weeks and we really needed that for the fans, for the community and for ourselves.”
With the score 60 – 59 and 9:20 to play, James Web III hit the triple and then Evans with eight points as Valencia went up 75 – 59. Virtus was stunned and never cut its deficit below double figures.
“La Fonteta deserved a win like this,” said Valencia coach Alex Mumbru. “We have one game more in EuroLeague and we will fight in Barcelona. We fought in all the games, with some difficult moments and injuries. We fight until the end and I’m proud for my players.”
Virtus coach Sergio Scariolo received a standing ovation by the crowd in La Fonteta. “That’s something,” he said. He then added on the game. “We ran out of energies in the fourth period. Most of our veteran players, some of our players were completely out of gas. They got a 10-point lead and they kept it deservedly.”