Fantastic Virtus. Against all odds, the Bianconeri passed 64-67 on the pitchEph in the first match of the play-in and earn the trip to Vitoria on Friday evening against the Baskonia to access to the Euroleague playoffs. A well-deserved victory, born from the great defensive application (Efes held at 32%) and sealed by the usual basket of Lundberg with 11″ to go like many others in this wonderful European season. Segafredo was coming from eight consecutive away defeats, seven consecutive ever to close the regular season and in front of the 15 thousand in Istanbul he looked like a sacrificial victim. Instead it won because it is a team in the true sense word with heart, humility and mental stability in a match in which it is impossible to choose a man of the match because everyone brought a decisive brick.
The match between Efes Istanbul and Virtus Bologna: difficult start
It had started with a Clyburn unstoppable with 17 points in six minutes with 5/5 from the arc to push Efes to 23-12, also taking advantage of a couple of Virtus turnovers to pave the Turkish counterattack. It could have already seemed like a knockout blow but Segafredo had the credit for it Don’t mentally leave the game. Shengelia and Lundberg produced the 11-0 tie and then the second quintet did a huge defensive job, especially near the basket (6 blocks in the first half). Polonara was a giantZizic and Mickey were intimidating, Abass, Pajola and Hackett applied great work on the perimeter and Virtus also found themselves ahead (27-28), going to rest in wake (36-35) after holding Efes to 7/23 from two and paying only six very trivial turnovers in the second quarter.
Lundberg’s triple worth the victory
Banchi reconfirms the quintet of substitutions that had finished the first half, Larkin comes on but Segafredo does not take a step back, continues to defend with great intensity and doesn’t take a step back. When they return, the big names are rested and take over from their teammates without letting their energy bar drop. Shengelia and Belinelli at the beginning of the fourth period they close the score to 55-50, Pajola is extraordinary in defense on Larkin and equalizes from three, starting the great feat. Beli’s triple seals the overtaking and opens the partial score was 9-0 closed by Abass for 57-64 with 3’25” to go. Virtus sees the arrival banner but loses a bit of clarity, Efes clings to Larkin and returns to -3 (61-64), Shengelia misses a comfortable shot but makes up for it with a decisive recovery that sets the stage the table at Lundberg’s triple for 61-67 at -11”. The company is served.
The match scoreboard
Efes Istanbul-Segafredo Bologna 64-67
Partial: 23-21, 36-35, 50-48
EFES: Larkin 16, Beaubois 5, Bryant 5, Clyburn 22, Thompson, Pleiss 3, Hollatz, Osmani 6, Oturu 2, Yilmaz ne, Willis, Jones 5. Coaches: Mijatovic.
VIRTUS: Cordinier 2, Lundberg 12, Belinelli 11, Pajola 3, Dobric ne, Shengelia 13, Hackett 2, Mickey, Polonara 8, Zizic 4, Dunston, Abass 12. All:: Banchi.
Referees: Radovic, Peruga, Nikolic
Field goals: Efe 21/66 (9/29 from three), Vir 25/62 (11/28 from three)
Free throws: Efe 13/17, Vir 6/10
Rebounds: Efe 40, Vir 43
Assists: Eph 8, Vir 21
