Virtus Bologna signs the feat and can still achieve the Euroleague Playoffs. After seven consecutive defeats, here it is sensational victory for Banchi’s team, which won at Efes 67-64 and now the second round of the Play-In will be played on Friday in Spain against Baskonia. A wonderful performance by Virtus, capable of an extraordinary defense for 40 minutes and then of being calm in the decisive moment of the match.
Shengelia is Virtus’ best scorer with 13 points, but the 12 points from Iffe Lundberg and Awudu Abass and the 11 from Marco Belinelli are also very important. Achille Polonara also makes a great contribution with his eight points. For Efes, Will Clyburn’s 22 points and Shane Larkin’s 16 were not enough.
Efes starts strong with two triples from Clyburn, but Virtus responds with Belinelli and Shengelia and is ahead 7-6. Clyburn, however, is furious and scores the Turkish team’s first fourteen points (4/4 from the arc) with Banchi being forced to call timeout (14-7). The American also reaches 17 and Efes even runs away on +12 (23-12). Virtus, however, absolutely does not give up and reacts with a 9-0 run in the last two minutesclosing 23-21 down at the first siren.
Shengelia immediately equalizes the score, but Efes tries another mini-stretch (27-23). Banchi, however, finds points, defense, energy and character from his bench. Virtus overtakes with Abass’s triple, but above all responds blow for blow to the Turkish team. An excellent Polonara equalizes at 33-33, then yet another triple from Clyburn and the last ring is from Zizic. We go to the locker rooms with Bologna down by just one point (36-35).
Banchi still rides his bench even after returning from the long break and Polonara immediately finds the triple to overtake. We also scored little in the third quarter, with defenses dominating attacks. Efes gets back ahead with Larkin and Pleiss, but Virtus responds blow for blow and finally with Lundberg’s layup enters the final ten minutes trailing by only two points (50-48).
Efes reaches +5 with Beaubois, but Virtus has immense heart this evening and finds the equalizer with Pajola’s triple. Belinelli then takes care of the overtaking (57-58). Efes is in total confusion and Bryant also commits an unsportsmanlike offense on Shengelia. The Georgian fails to shoot free throws, Abass enters and makes no mistakes. Belinelli and Abass again bring Virtus to +7. Efes clings to Larkin who brings the Turks back to -3, but as has always happened this season, Lundberg scored the winning basket. Bryant scores -3, but then Efes avoids fouling Belinelli and does so only one second from the end on Shengelia. The Georgian’s 0/2 doesn’t hurt and Virtus can celebrate a great victory.
THE MATCH SCORESHEET
ANADOLU EFES ISTANBUL – VIRTUS SEGAFREDO BOLOGNA 64-67 (23-21, 13-14, 14-13, 14-19)
Eph: Larkin 16, Beaubois 5, Bryant 5, Clyburn 22, Thompson, Pleiss 3, Hollatz, Osmani 6, Oturu 2, Yilmaz, Willis, Jones 5
Bologna: Cordinier 2, Lundberg 12, Belinelli 11, Pajola 3, Dobric, Shengelia 13, Hackett 2, Mickey, Polonara 8, Zizic 4, Dunston, Abass 12
Tags: Euroleague Virtus Bologna signs feat Istanbul Playoffs played Baskonia
