Virtus Segafredo Bologna overwhelms Dolomiti Energia Trentino and closes the regular season at the top of the standings. Baldwin breaks the deadlock with a mid-range jumper, Cordinier and Hackett respond and Biligha ties the score before Mickey’s triple opens a 10-0 run in which Abass also takes part (14-4); the guests stop the bleeding with Forray, but Cordinier is constantly on the ball and puts Virtus Segafredo back on +10, subsequently Baldwin scores the basket to make it 18-10.
The hosts score a 5-0 break started again by a bomb from Mickey, on the other side Alviti takes care of tearing the net from 6.75 metres, however Lundberg decides to let Bologna escape by recording the maximum advantage at +17; the last word comes from the number 4 of Dolomiti Energia who with two shots with the clock stopped scores the 30-15 at the end of the first quarter. The Trentino team enters the second period decidedly more aggressive and in fact immediately scores a partial score of 0-6 led by the Cooke-Alviti tandem, leading coach Luca Banchi to call a time-out; the short break totally shakes the hosts, who are taken on the shoulders by Belinelli who scores 14 points in the 21-0 run and leads them towards 51-21.
Biligha’s support gives oxygen back to the guests, the Bolognese respond first with the Abass-Hackett axis and then with the Cordinier-Belinelli-Hackett trio to the triple scored by Ellis; the number 19 of Dolomiti Energia is the last to give up in the first half scoring the -32 basket, but the last word goes to Bologna with Shengelia and Dobric moving the score to 64-28 at the end of the first half.
Mickey’s bomb at the start of the third quarter keeps the momentum going in favor of Virtus Segafredo who in the following minutes let themselves be dragged by Shengelia up to +42, yet another maximum advantage in the match; the Dobric-Shengelia-Mickey trio continues their campaign, bringing Bologna ahead 83-34 until Baldwin re-emerges, pushes Trento towards a 2-7 break and brings the result to 85-41 after half an hour of play.
The fourth period becomes pure academy with the home team in total control and capable of scoring a 15-1 run – Mascolo, Belinelli, Lundberg and Zizic are the protagonists – which widens the gap (100-45); in the final minutes Ellis, Alviti and Mooney make the deficit less burdensome with a series of baskets, then Mascolo brings Virtus Segafredo to +49, but it is Cooke’s support that closes the match at the final 108-61.
Virtus Segafredo Bologna – Dolomiti Energia Trentino 108-61
(Q1 30-15; Q2 64-28; Q3 85-41)
Virtus Segafredo Bologna: Cordinier 8, Lundberg 11, Belinelli 20, Pajola, Dobric 7, Mascolo 8, Shengelia 15, Hackett 8, Mickey 14, Polonara 2, Zizic 6, Abass 9. Coach: Banchi
Dolomiti Energia Trentino: Ellis 12, Alviti 14, Conti 2, Forray 2, Cooke Jr. 11, Diarra ne, Placinschi ne, Biligha 6, Mooney 5, Baldwin 9. Coach: Galbiati
Source: Lega Basket
