By Cesare Milanti / info@eurohoops.net
CASALECCHIO DI RENO, Italy – The streak is over. After three consecutive victories in the competition, Virtus Bologna won’t start the 2024-25 season once again with a new trophy in their cabinet, as they lost the 2024 Italian Supercup to Milan. Ettore Messina’s team won the two sides’ first official clash of the season 98-96 in overtime with the winning shot by Leandro Bolmaro.
For Ettore Messina’s team, the newcomers made the difference. The usual leader Nikola Mirotic (18 points – he didn’t play in the overtime after committing five fouls) was heavily supported by Josh Nebo (20 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks) and Nenad Dimitrijevic (16 points and 6 assists), who are starting to compose a deadly duo. Zach LeDay and Leandro Bolmaro combined for 29 points.
“We’re very happy. When you lose the Italian Supercup it hurts, when you win it you get a boost of trust to keep on working together. Virtus played a wonderful first half, we didn’t split ourselves in halves. Getting a trophy in an away court against such a team gives us a lot of trust. Winning here in Casalecchio made me remember a lot of great memories”, Ettore Messina expressed his satisfaction.
Tornike Shengelia continued his good form status after displaying dominance against Napoli, finishing with 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists over Milan. Will Clyburn – who rushed to the locker rooms during the fourth due to a wrist problem, solved later – added 14 points. Rayjon Tucker blew kisses to its new fans, hyping the crowd up, and finished with 11 points over 3/4 from downtown.
“We hoped we could have won it. It was an approach to the game with personality and character. We put in a lot of energy and determination that will need to stay with us during such a long and tiring season. We tried to fight against an opponent that came back from halftime eager to turn the game’s inertia. I saw a version of Virtus that doesn’t have anything to fear”, Luca Banchi commented after the loss.
A final composed of a million different faces
The final – which was played in Unipol Arena, only a few kilometers away from Bologna and therefore full of black-and-white supporters – was split into two completely different halves. The first one saw Luca Banchi’s team escaping even at +15 (37-22) with a flawless ball movement, exploiting Matt Morgan and Alessandro Pajola’s extra efforts coming off the bench. Milan seemed hopeless.
In the second, the red-and-white side came back dragged by Nikola Mirotic, and found the first lead of the night at 57-53 towards the end of the third quarter. Heading towards the last ten minutes of the night, Virtus Bologna took once again the emotional control of the encounter, pushed by Achille Polonara’s hustle plays. In the fourth quarter, all led to Josh Nebo’s dunk that tied at 84-84, forcing OT.
Achille Polonara (18 points and 4 rebounds) tuned the clutch in extra time, first blocking Milan’s center under the rim and then banking in the dagger from outside on the other end. Later on, Josh Nebo received a technical foul after celebrating too heavily following a monstrous alley-oop. Ultimately, Leandro Bolmaro scored from the corner to win it all after an 8-0 run.
LBA Italian Supercup 2024
Semifinals
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan – Umana Reyer Venice 73-62
Napoli Basket – Virtus Segafredo Bologna 87-96
Final
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan – Virtus Segafredo Bologna 98-96
PHOTO CREDIT: EA7 Emporio Armani Milan
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