By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Virtus Bologna lives to fight another day in the Italian League Finals after beating Olimpia Milano 84 – 78 in Game 5 of the Finals to make the score 3-2. The series will continue in Milan Saturday (18/6) while a potential Game 7 will bring the Finals back in Bologna.
The game was rather intense down the stretch after Milano came back from a 13-point deficit (54-41) halfway through the third period to make it a close affair. The Red Shoes took their first lead by going up 62 – 64 early in the fourth quarter and then went ahead 74 – 75 with four minutes to play. Tornike Shengelia stepped up big time for Virtus by scoring five points as his team made it 80 – 75 and then dished out an assist to Isaia Cordinier for the slam and the 82 – 77.
Shavon Shields snatched the ball with a minute remaining but Shengelia then ran and delivered a chasedown block on Milano’s wing to keep his team at a two-possession distance. Shields made then two free throws for the 82 – 78 but it was too late since Milos Teodosic added a pair of his own to secure Virtus’ win.
Shengelia finished with 15 points, seven rebounds plus five assists while Mam Jaiteh had 17 points plus 13 rebounds and Marco Belinelli scored 11.
Nicolo Melli (20 points, five rebounds) and Sergio Rodriguez (18 points, six assists) stood out from Milano. Kyle Hines scored 15 and Devon Hall posted 11 points plus five rebounds.