Very heavy victory for the Virtus on the field never particularly happy with Tortona: the Segafredo wins 77-84 and remains in first place, arm in arm with Milan (who beat Brescia in the summit clash) with whom they have direct clashes in their favour. To the team of Desks the home success in the last match of the regular season against Trento will be enough to close the regular season first and earn the field factor for all the playoffs. He leads the group of a Virtus that dominates in rebounding (18-41) Shengelia with 15 points and a good second half, after the many difficulties of the first part, but they are decisive Zizicauthor of a great first half, and Polonaraoffensive key in the final, in addition to the 11 points of Lanyard.
Zizic factor
In Casale Monferrato they start strong masters Of home to the sound of triple and with the liveliness of Thomas under the basket, against a Virtus who started off quite slow: good things for Banchi Hackett and some problems for Shengeliawith Segafredo finding more energy when it starts to rotate there bench. The first Juventus overtaking arrives at 15-17 at the end of the first quarter, but the black Vs give the real blow with Zizica real factor under the basket: the Croatian brings nine points and eight rebounds in the first seven minutes on the court, an unsolved puzzle for De Raffaele’s defense. Despite a few too many turnovers, Virtus flies at +9 (18-27) and seems to be in control before the reaction of the hosts who soon return to contact Strautins and above all with Ross, who signs the -1. It becomes a difficult and grumpy challenge, especially for a Virtus with Belinelli silent and Shengelia harmful, except for the 39-41 basket that keeps Segafredo ahead before the long break.
Another shoulder, Polonara decisive
The balance also reigns at the start of the third quarter, but Banchi finally finds some good flashes from Shengelia which is worth a new mini-shoulder: the partial becomes important in the second part of the quarter, with clarity on both sides of the pitch Pajola and a protest technician a De Raffaele (followed shortly afterwards by one to the black and white Dunston) which leads Virtus to extend. Banchi’s team with the now usual reverse under the basket Belinelli finds the maximum advantage at +10 and is ahead 55-65 at the last mini-break: De Raffaele’s extra man to try to make a comeback in the fourth quarter is Radosevic, with eight points in a row – including an unusual stepback triple – which brings Bertram back to -6 with 7’30” left to go. Banchi calls timeout, tries to talk to us suddenly offensive anemia Segafredo reacts with a circus shot Polonara quite unexpected which allows a bit of margin, also because Banchi’s defense suddenly goes up in shots in a final played with Hackett, Cordinier, Abass, Polonara and Shengelia. Segafredo reaches +11 with the energy of Cordinier, Thomas and Dowe they try the last comeback, a naive turnover by Thomas seems to close the score but it’s not enough because the Segafredo attack gets stuck and the former Weems scores -4 (75-79) two minutes from the end. Another minute for Banchi, Virtus comes out with Polonara who, served by Shengelia, punishes Tortona’s defensive sleep: triples from Baldasso and Radosevic end up on the rim and when Shengelia pot the +8 the outside shot is a done deal.
Bertram Tortona – Virtus Segafredo Bologna 77-84
Partial: 6-5pm; 39-41; 55-65
TORTONA: Zerini, Ross 10, Dowe 5, Candi, Strautins 7, Baldasso 4, Severini 3, Obasohan 12, Weems 13, Thomas 12, Radosevic 10. Coach: De Raffaele
VIRTUS: Cordinier 11, Belinelli 6, Pajola 5, Dobric, Mascolo 1, Lomazs 3, Shengelia 15, Hackett 11, Polonara 9, Zizic 11, Dunston 4, Abass 8. All.: Banchi
Referees: Attard, Valzani, Valleriani
Field Shots: Tor 25/57 (10/33 from three), Vir 28/51 (4/16 from three). Free throws: Tor 17/22, Vir 24/31. Rebounds: Tor 18, Vir 41. Assists: Tor 15, Vir 18
