By Cesare Milanti/ info@eurohoops.net
In a tough game full of tension on both sides, Virtus Segafredo Bologna managed to get the 75-69 on-the-road win against EA7 Emporio Armani Milano. With this victory, they are now on top of the LBA alone with a 17-4 record. Milano is now second with 16-5.
On Sergio Scariolo’s team, Marco Belinelli and Niccolò Mannion led the way from beyond the arc. The 36-year-old shooting guard scored 12, while the former Golden State Warriors 22-year-old talent ended with 11 and 3/3 from three. Toko Shengelia added 11 points and 8 rebounds.
For the reigning LBA champs, Billy Baron ended with 20 points while being perfect at the line (9/9). Shabazz Napier followed with 16 points and 4 assists, while Nicolò Melli added 9 points and 7 rebounds.
In the first half, Virtus Bologna took control of the game and went to the locker room up by 13 points. The guests shot way better than Milano from beyond the arc (56% vs 20%).
However, following Milano’s 14-1 run to enter the second half, Ettore Messina’s team tied things up at 50-50 with 05:26 left in the third quarter. Despite the red-and-white comeback, the reigning EuroCup champions still took home the victory in the Italian derby.
In the first domestic derby of the season, Olimpia Milano had the better of Virtus Bologna on the road 96-74. In the EuroLeague, the black-and-white side won 64-59 in Mediolanum Forum back in November. Virtus Bologna beat Milano in the 2022 Italian Supercup semifinals as well.
Ettore Messina didn’t have Devon Hall, Kevin Pangos, Shavon Shields, Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot, DeShaun Thomas, Gigi Datome, and Paul Biligha. For the black-and-white team, Sergio Scariolo didn’t have Isaia Cordinier, Semi Ojeleye, Alessandro Pajola, Milos Teodosic, and Gora Camara.
LBA Round 22
Dolomiti Energia Trento – Bertram Yachts Derthona Tortona 73-75
Pallacanestro Trieste – UnaHotels Reggio Emilia 75-80
Carpegna Prosciutto Pesaro – Germani Brescia 88-79
Dinamo Banco di Sardegna Sassari – Openjobmetis Varese 102-73
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan – Virtus Segafredo Bologna 69-75
GeVi Napoli – Happy Casa Brindisi 80-96
Tezenis Verona – Umana Reyer Venice 92-95 OT (78-78)
NutriBullet Treviso – Givova Scafati 89-88
STANDINGS: Virtus Bologna 36 (18-4), Olimpia Milano 34 (17-5), Tortona 32 (16-6), Sassari 26 (13-9), Varese 24 (12-10), Pesaro 24 (12-10), Brindisi 24 (12-10)…
PHOTO CREDIT: Virtus Segafredo Bologna