The first semi-final series of the 2024 LBA Playoffs begins this evening and features the Virtus Segafredo Bologna host theUmana Reyer Venice, or the number 1 and 4 seeds in the draw. This is the 25th semi-final in the history of Virtus Bologna, the fourth in a row, and 15 times the round to access the Final series has been made. Instead, for Reyer Venezia it is presence number seven in the semi-final which has passed the round twice, winning the tricolor on both occasions (seasons 2016/17 and 2018/19). Here is the latest news on injured players.
Virtus Bologna vs Reyer Venezia, the live text
4Q – Cordinier shoots the +5 basket from the table. Abass also bombs, Virtus at +8 and Spahija timeout at 73-65. Bad defense by Zizic, dunk by Tessitori in pick and roll. Lanyard! The Frenchman scores from underneath, then Heidegger and it’s 75-69 in the 33rd minute. Reyer reaches -4. Venezia goes to Tessitori, offload for Parks, three-point error and rebound by Tex who is fouled: 1/2, 75-72 at 35′.
Belinelli scores the first points of his second half. Hackett! Shengelia unloads for his point guard which makes it 80-72, timeout in the 36th minute. Parks puts his team back within 4 with four points in a row, 80-76 in the 37th minute. A free throw for Bologna who gets back to +5 before Marco Spissu’s bomb. Banchi timeout, Reyer at -2.
3Q – Cordinier opens the second half with two free throws for +17. Pajola makes a defensive play and Belinelli fires the bomb for +20, 57-37 in the 22nd minute. Venezia needs points and finds them with Spissu’s triple. Then Tessitori with the foul, 6-0 and 57-43. And it’s 9-0, another Spissu bomb: 57-46 after 3:30 in the period. Virtus blackout and Banchi timeout. Spissu provides the assist for Tessitori, Venezia at -6, 57-51. The big blue player also scores -4: 57-53 in the 25th minute.
Bologna closes the opponent’s partial: Mickey serves Hackett’s cut, basket and foul. Mickey responds to Simms, Shengelia turns from the post and supports the 64-58. De Nicolao! Bomb 64-61 in the 28th minute. Parks brings his score to -1, Shengelia makes it 1/2. Abass is fouled on a three-pointer, 2/3 and 67-63 with 37 seconds to play. Parks returns to the line, 2/2 and 67-65. Heidegger misses the final triple: after three quarters the score is 67-65.
2Q – Zizic also opens the second period with four points in a row from under the basket, Virtus again at +6. Heidegger scores again after a lucky offensive rebound and it’s 28-24 in the 12th minute. Abass! +7 bomb. Spahija timeout, Virtus is back racing: Zizic scores +9, partial open, 33-24 with 7:30 in the quarter. Reyer scores again: Hackett lost and Parks pinned. But on the other side Mascolo cuts and supports 35-26. Tessitori scores two and keeps Venezia at -7. Polonara bomb, Bologna returns to +10. The team responds with De Nicolao: basket and foul from the area. Tessitori leads Venezia, now at -5. Virtus finds points from below with Mickey: 44-37 at 17′. Wonderful Virtus action, Polonara supports two points of +9. Field for Dobric, immediately two for the Serbian. Then nailed by Mickey for +15. The first half ends 52-37.
1Q – Belinelli opens with two triples, Venezia starts with Simms. Pajola scores with a foul and it’s 9-3 after 2′. Tucker turns on, first two in penetration. Another 2+1 for Virtus, signed by Dunston: 12-5. First two for Tessitori, but Belinelli is very hot: another bomb of 15-7 in the 4th minute. Casarin scored, Shengelia also came out from the line: 17-9 in the 4th minute.
Cordinier signs the +10, Spahija timeout. Bomb in transition by Marco Spissu, Venezia returns to -7 but Abass replies on the other side. Prompt response from Heidegger, then second bomb from Spissu: Reyer break, 22-18 at 8′. After Banchi’s timeout, Heidegger shows: 4-0, it’s 10- Reyer and 22-22, Tessitori a factor in defense. Zizic in a half hook closes the period: Virtus Bologna ahead 24-22 at 10′.
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Official, Luca Banchi’s 12: Lundberg confirmed out due to injury together with Lomazs due to technical choice. On the field Cordinier, Belinelli, Pajola, Dobric, Mascolo, Shengelia, Hackett, Mickey, Polonara, Zizic, Dunston, Abass.
Where to watch Virtus Bologna vs Reyer Venezia on TV
It will be played at the Segafredo Arena on Friday 24 May 2024 with tap-off at 8.45pm, and with live television from DAZN, DMAX and Eurosport 1. Our live text follows.
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