Ready to go and the first surprise in the Serie A playoffs arrives immediately: Reggio Emilia beats Taliercio by beating Venezia 74-82 thanks to Jamar Smith’s majestic 25-point performance. Priftis’ men built their lead already in the first quarter and – despite some difficulties in the final minutes – remained ahead until the final siren. The real twist of the evening, however, is likely to materialize in Bologna: in the middle of the match it is Bertram who leads at the Segafredo Arena against Virtus, seeded number 1 in the playoff table. But it is a false alarm: with an imperious partial of 24-8 in the third quarter the Black Vu re-establish the hierarchies and in the end win game 1 92-80.
VENICE-REGGIO EMILIA 74-82
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Great performance from the Reggio Emilia team, who overturned the field factor in the debut match of the Lba playoffs. Venice tries to assert its centimeters by working on the Spissu-Kabengele axis, which however takes a long time to come together. On the contrary, Reggio immediately hits the right approach by relying on Galloway’s experience from the arc. Wiltjer from the bench gives energy to Reyer, who however concedes too much in the defensive half of the pitch, particularly on rebounds: Unahotels makes good use of the second chances given to them to catch Smith’s hot hand. Venezia slips, but in the final minutes it suddenly becomes dangerous again: once again a long-range feat from Smith is needed to definitively close the game 1 issue in favor of the guests.
Venice: Kabengele 14, Wiltjer 13, Spissu and Simms 10
Reggio Emilia: Smith 25, Galloway 18, Faye 11
BOLOGNA-TORTONA 92-80
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The first match was good for Banchi’s team, despite a few unexpected moments of fright. After an initial study phase, Virtus accelerates by riding the offensive talent of the Belinelli-Cordinier duo. But there is no awe in the faces of De Raffaele’s men, who after having prevented the Vu Nere from extending thanks to Baldasso’s triples and Obasohan’s physicality at the end of the first half even put the arrow in: the first part of the match ends 44-48. The game changes face in the second half: Virtus increases the intensity in defense and leaves the crumbs to Tortona, who lacks the fluidity that had fueled the previous advantage. And so Bertram stops at 8 points in the third quarter, while Segafredo spreads, led this time by Lundberg, and goes on to take game 1.
Bologna: Cordinier 18, Belinelli 16, Lundberg 15
Tortona: Baldasso 15, Dowe 11, Strautins and Radosevic 10
