By Cesare Milanti / info@eurohoops.net
BOLOGNA, Italy – After a first half full of tension, the third and fourth quarter of this year’s LBA Finals opener brought excitement to the table in Bologna. At the end of a rollercoaster encounter, Milano won 86-75 in overtime, managing to go up 1-0 in the series in overtime.
Shavon Shields, who went in complete beast mode in the final stretch of the game, scored 25 points out of 6/7 from three-point range. Shabazz Napier was by far the best player on the court for the vast majority of the first half and ended with a 21-point winning effort, converting the three-pointer to force overtime with 33.8 seconds on the clock. Devon Hall added 18 points with 7 rebounds.
“Obviously it’s an important victory, but it’s only the first one of a potentially long series. We’ve had a pretty good defense, and on offense, we found a huge night from Shavon [Shields]. We can and we need to be better t than this. The key was having the heart and cohesion to win against Virtus Bologna”, Ettore Messina said in the post-game press conference.
Despite being visibly tired after a long season full of duties both in the EuroLeague and LBA, Tornike Shengelia went close to a double-double with 16 points and 8 rebounds. Isaia Cordinier added 14 points and 8 rebounds, bringing energy when needed to Luca Banchi’s team. Returning from injury, Iffe Lundberg tried to have an instant impact, scoring 10 points with 5 assists for the black-and-white side.
“We had the right approach, the first twenty minutes of rare intensity forcing Milan to only 25 points. They had 12/18 from the arc in the second half and it talks a lot about the comeback. This game cost us in terms of mental and physical energy. It hurts because we couldn’t collect what it could be. This series forces us to be even more determined and cynical”, Luca Banchi said after the defeat.
Cordinier vuole fortissimamente il ferro… ✈🇫🇷
E se lo va a prendere! 🔨💥😤#LBAFinals | #EurosportBasket | @discoveryplusIT | @VirtusSegafredo pic.twitter.com/TPlts94nBf
— Eurosport IT (@Eurosport_IT) June 6, 2024
Virtus Bologna had a great start to the series, rapidly going up 10-4, while Milano couldn’t convert any shot from the field to begin the second quarter, only witnessing their opponents’ 6-0 run. Shabazz Napier’s personal initiatives were probably the only positive news for Milano in the first half, while on the other end, Toko Shengelia’s footwork stole the show to give Virtus the 33-25 lead at halftime.
With 6:26 on the clock in the third quarter, the Georgian power forward delivered a chase-down block on Nikola Mirotic; Milano recovered and tied the game at 36-36 midway through the third. Stopping Milano’s escape attempt, Marco Belinelli banked in a 3+1 play later on. Shavon Shields shot from the stratosphere to give Milano the six-point lead entering the fourth quarter (54-48).
Like it has happened several times this season, Iffe Lundberg came up clutch first off the dribble and then converted three free throws out of three to avoid Milano running away, giving Virtus the 62-61 with 3:23 left. The final stretches of the game belonged to a boxe encounter, exchanging blows in back-and-forth fashion. Driving on the baseline, Isaia Cordinier helped Virtus get up 68-65, but Shabazz Napier converted from three to tie it and send the game to overtime.
Shooting in fadeaway off the backboard against Iffe Lundberg, Nicolò Melli got Milano up to begin the extra five minutes of action, immediately followed by Shavon Shields from three. The Danish-American forward converted twice again from beyond the arc, giving his team a seven-point lead that translated into killing the encounter. Milano started the LBA Finals on the positive side of things.
SHAVON SHIELDS 🔥🔥🔥
Tre triple siderali per 1-0 Milano in overtime 👏⚪🔴#LBAFinals | #EurosportBasket | @discoveryplusIT | @OlimpiaMI1936 pic.twitter.com/hgb73Wf8Mq
— Eurosport IT (@Eurosport_IT) June 6, 2024
LBA Playoffs
Quarterfinals (best-of-five)
Virtus Segafredo Bologna – Bertram Derthona Tortona 3-2 (92-80, 83-77, 81-91, 75-82, 92-63)
Umana Reyer Venice – UnaHotels Reggio Emilia 3-2 (74-82, 83-75, 66-78, 95-92, 83-67)
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan – Dolomiti Energia Trento 3-1 (84-85, 104-93, 83-68, 87-69)
Germani Brescia – Estra Pistoia 3-0 (79-70, 97-75, 98-77)
Semifinals (best-of-five)
Virtus Segafredo Bologna – Umana Reyer Venice 3-1 (103-89, 79-78, 73-78, 96-81)
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan – Germani Brescia 3-0 (95-89, 77-66, 96-89)
Finals (best-of-five)
Virtus Segafredo Bologna – EA7 Emporio Armani Milan 0-1 (75-86)
PHOTO CREDIT: EA7 Emporio Armani Milan