Point by point, attacked and glued in the last four minutes after the sidereal advantage of Bologna (plus 22) and the sensational comeback of Venezia which saw the victory at the Segafredo Arena vanish twenty seconds from the end when, leading by one point, Tucker ball in hand to close the score but commits a foul in attack. Virtus launches into attack, Cordinier enters and is fouled. From the line he makes a clear run and thus gives the second, hard-fought victory to the Vnere in the semi-final with the lagoon players who in three days, at home, will have to win to extend the challenge. For Bologna 14 points from Belinelli and 11 from Polonara, for Venezia 14 from Simms and Parks.
Virtus was overwhelming in the first period, a tragic quarter for Venezia who lost six balls in the first 10′, made 4 out of 13 shots and also went 19 down, dazed and dazed under the blows of a Virtus who even changed direction three times ( Pajola, then Hackett, finally Mascolo) always keeping his foot on the accelerator, alternating pick and rolls with “high and low” plays that puncture the Reyer defense. First a 7-0 run led by Dunston (who scores 7 points, two more than the league average, in just 6′) and broken by Tessitori, then another 7-0 boosted by Pajola and Cordinier broken once again by Tessitori and finally an 8-0 which led Virtus to overtake a disoriented Venezia who only finally took courage in the final quarter.
After Heidegger’s triple which sets the first set (28-15), another triple (De Nicolao) closes the gap at the start of the second quarter to -10 without the contribution of Tucker who just can’t get into the series. Banchi stops the bleeding, puts Belinelli back, a triple from him and then one from Mickey bring the gap back to +17 (35-18) in the 14th minute. Venice stands only because Tessitori is a lion and Brooks honors his past luster with a few minutes but of depth. Tucker’s first points arrive in the 18th minute and only from the line, after yet another acrobatic triple by Belinelli (4/5 from the arc in the first 20′). Reyer’s struggles and a vein injury set the score at 47-30 at halftime.
Abass’ triple at the start of the third period brings Virtus to plus 22, there is practically no story on the parquet, two triples from Spissu and Tessitori’s determination are the only drops in the lagoon desert, barren in the mouths of fire Tucker and Wiltjer while Banchi alternates quintets and setups always finding responses from the first, second and third lines. A perfect picture in which Belinelli paints celestial parables and assists, like the pass that sends Mickey to the basket (62-45) in the 27th minute followed by the first field goal from Tucker who dunks angrily on the counterattack. Virtus with Pajola, Mascolo and Shengelia with four fouls, Reyer believes she comes back to life and gets back up to -7 (62-55) in the 29th minute with an eloquent partial of 19-5.
Simms and Parks fuel up while Shengelia goes out for five fouls, Venezia reaches -5 (68-63) in the 33rd minute, Virtus relies on the strength of Dunston, the mettle of Hackett and the energy of Polonara to stay in front but it is the captain Reyer De Nicolao made the difference by further shortening the score to -4 (69-65) also thanks to offensive rebounds. Casarin’s triple is a scream that shatters the Virtus certainties (72-70), the last four minutes turn into a wild fight. Bologna trembles, Venezia grabs the first lead 2 and a half minutes from the siren with an acrobatic basket by Parks assisted by Spissu. Point by point final, up to Cordinier’s free throws which put a smile on Bologna’s faces.
Situation.
Virtus Segafredo Bologna-Umana Reyer Venezia 79-78 (series 2-0)
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan-Germani Brescia (series 1-0)
Plan.
Race 2. May 27: EA7 Emporio Armani Milan-Germani Brescia (8.45pm; Dazn, Eurosport 2, Dmax).
Race 3. May 29: Umana Reyer Venezia-Virtus Segafredo Bologna (8.45pm, Dazn, Eurosport 2, Dmax). 30 May: Germani Brescia – EA7 Emporio Armani Milano (8.45pm; Dazn, Eurosport 2, Dmax).
Possible match 4. May 31: Umana Reyer Venezia-Virtus Segafredo Bologna. 1 June: Germani Brescia – EA7 Emporio Armani Milan. Possible match 5. 2 June: Virtus Segafredo Bologna-Umana Reyer Venezia. June 3: EA7 Emporio Armani Milan-Germani Brescia.
