By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
After suffering in the second quarter, Virtus Bologna had a statement comeback 92-80 victory against Derthona Tortona to start the LBA Quarter-Finals on the right page, getting up 1-0.
Without Toko Shengelia and Ognjen Dobric, respectively out with a feverish attack and due to a small ankle injury, Luca Banchi’s team was dragged in several moments by Isaia Cordinier, who ended with 18 points over a perfect 6/6 from two-point range.
Iffe Lundberg and Marco Belinelli followed by adding 31 points combined, while Bryant Dunston had once again huge defensive merits in containing both Leon Radosevic and Ismael Kamagate. The 37-year-old former Olympiacos center finished with 8 points, 5 boards, and 2 blocks.
Playing the last three LBA Finals with Olimpia Milano against Virtus Bologna, Tommaso Baldasso ended with 15 points and got covered in boos by the crowd in Segafredo Arena. Kyle Weems, who played here from 2019 to 2023, had his first postseason game against his past, scoring 9 points.
Walter De Raffaele’s team tied at 38-38 with 3:54 minutes on the clock in the second after a pretty solid start by Virtus Bologna, thanks to a perfect 8/8 shooting quarter inside the area. Leon Radosevic even brought his team up by six points (48-42) toward halftime.
However, following the black-and-white side’s 24-8 scoring run in the third quarter, separation was created between the hosts and the guests. Luca Banchi’s team had no problems containing an eventual comeback by Derthona, waiting for Game 2 which will take place in two days time.
Jamar Smith put Reggio Emilia up 1-0
Earlier in the night, Reggio Emilia managed to beat Reyer Venice on the road mainly thanks to Jamar Smith, who erupted for 25 points over 5/6 from three-point range and 8/8 at the line,
The 37-year-old also banked in the decisive dagger to give his team the 82-74 victory, followed by his backcourt partner Langston Galloway, candidate for MVP of the Year and author of 18 points over 5/12 from beyond the arc.
On the gold-and-grenade side, Mfioundu Kabengele went close to a double-double with 14 points and 9 rebounds in the defeat. Rayjon Tucker, who dominated throughout the whole season, flopped with only 3 points on the scoreboard.
LBA Quarter-Finals
Reyer Venezia – Reggio Emilia, G1: 74-82
Reyer Venezia – Reggio Emilia, G2 (13/05 at 20:45 CET)
Reggio Emilia – Reyer Venezia, G3 (16/05 at 20:00 CET)
Virtus Bologna – Derthona Tortona, G1: 92-80
Virtus Bologna – Derthona Tortona, G2 (13/05 at 20:00 CET)
Derthona Tortona – Virtus Bologna, G3 (16/05 at 2045 CET)
Olimpia Milano – Aquila Trento, G1 (12/05 at 18:00 CET)
Olimpia Milano – Aquila Trento, G2 (14/05 at 20:00 CET)
Aquila Trento – Olimpia Milano, G3 (17/05 at 20:45 CET)
Germani Brescia – Estra Pistoia, G1 (12/05 at 20:45 CET)
Germani Brescia – Estra Pistoia, G2 (14/05 at 20:45 CET)
Germani Brescia – Estra Pistoia, G3 (17/05 at 20:00 CET)
PHOTO CREDIT: Virtus Segafredo Bologna