Field factor respected in game 2 of the quarterfinals on the left side of the playoff scoreboard. Virtus suffers as they rule Tortona in the final and can close the series on Thursday. Venezia bounces back from the opening stumble, hitting the Taliercio (1-1) in the series against Reggio Emilia, always keeping the challenge in hand. Tomorrow match 2 for Milan-Trento and Brescia-Pistoia.
Bologna-Tortona (83-77). The last twenty seconds at the Segafredo Arena last three minutes with whistles, fouls, technical fouls, interruptions, protests and shots from the foul line. Virtus emerges from the slaughter and rules an indomitable Tortona, capable of getting back into the game several times, even reaching -2 (78-76) 27 seconds from the siren. In the last stretch in Bologna, Cordinier takes the cover (14 points), stuttering, nervous and disjointed for 36′ and then implacable with 8 points that give Banchi’s quintet some breath again in the final minutes. Thus the Frenchman, at the end of the race: «They wanted to keep us on the field but we must and can do much better, we missed the right moment to close it but in the end we won the victory and on Thursday we must close the series».
Still without Shengelia, Bologna clings to the strength of Belinelli, relentless from the line (11/11) and ultimately top scorer of the match with 22 points, and to the vigor of the big men Mickey (17) and Dunston (10 points and 6 rebounds), to tame a solid, tenacious, aggressive and combative Tortona that takes control of the scoreboards, that even cultivates the idea of a coup but that in the end gives up because the numerical gap in the squad makes the (decisive) difference. Dry for 8 minutes between the first and second quarters, he even puts his head forward in the third period and raises the white flag in the fourth but only at the end. On the shields Strautins (14 points) and Obasohan (13), Dowe darting for rebounds (10) and Baldasso (10 points) who only lights up towards the end. Game 3 on Thursday in Casale Monferrato, Tortona will try to extend the series, Bologna will try to close it instead, perhaps also counting on Lundberg who came out battered at the end of the match after a slip on the parquet.
Venice-Reggio Emilia (83-75). Led by a Spissu in great shape (19 points and 6 assists) Venezia redeems itself after the defeat that inaugurated the playoffs and overcomes Reggio Emilia which was 21 down in the 30th minute (64-45) but came back in the last quarter thanks as usual Galloway (26 points, 19 in the last period) to the point of causing tremors in the lagoon players who however held on until the final siren. For Reyer solid performances from Kabengele (15 points and 9 rebounds), Wiltjer (10) and Tucket (10) in recovery, on the other hand Smith does not replicate the deadly first performance scoring only 5 points, 9 each for Uglietti, Chillo and Weber.
The situation.
Virtus Segafredo Bologna-Bertram Tortona 83-77 (series 2-0)
Umana Reyer Venezia-Unahotels Reggio Emilia (83-75 series 1-1).
Tomorrow, race 2: EA7 Emporio Armani Milano-Dolomiti Energia Trentino (series 0-1; 8pm, Dazn-Eurosport 2); Germani Brescia-Estra Pistoia (series 1-0; 8.45pm, Dazn-Dmax).
Race 3, Thursday 16 May: Unahotels Reggio Emilia-Umana Reyer Venezia (8pm, Dazn-Eurosport 1); Bertram Derthona Tortona-Virtus Segafredo Bologna (8.45pm, Dazn-Dmax). Friday 17 May: Estra Pistoia-Germani Brescia (8pm, Dazn, Eurosport 1); Dolomiti Energia Trentino-EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (8.45 pm, Dazn-Dmax).
