Virtus Segafredo Bologna defeats EA7 Emporio Armani Milano in a comeback, wins Game 2 of the LBA Finals UnipolSai 2024 and ties the series at 1-1.
THE MATCH
The news (Source: LBA Press Office) – After a three-point back and forth between Mirotic and Shengelia, Cordinier goes up with penetrating shots but Tonut and Melli’s bombs give a better boost to the red and whites (7-9). Although a basket with an immediate foul by Belinelli lights up the Segafredo Arena, Mirotic and Hines continue to push EA7 Emporio Armani with the clock stopped, before Hackett sends free throws to the target for -2. The quarter ends with the winning combination between Shields and Hines, making the three-point play 12-17 after 10′ of the game
Subsequently, Olimpia presses on the accelerator pedal and continues the red and white break up to 0-10, thanks to five consecutive points from a concrete Hall and a winning pick and roll between Napier and Melli, before Mickey interrupts the long Juventus hemorrhage with the free throw of 13-24. Following a jumper made by Napier, Segafredo shakes up with a triple from Belinelli and above all the presence of Mickey on the two halves of the court, before Pajola gives the number 25 the comfortable dunk on the counterattack to make it 22-28.
Despite a timeout called by coach Messina, Virtus’ rise continues with a triple from Shengelia and another basket from Mickey – which brings the hosts back to -1 -, although Shields then avoids the opponent’s overtaking and interrupts the local break of 12-0 with the 27-31 jumper. To complete the Juventus comeback, at the end of the half, Polonara then took care of it, author of the free throws and the basket and foul which closed the initial 20′ of the match in the best possible way for Bologna (32-31).
At the start of the second half, Pajola and especially Belinelli put Virtus on their shoulders, also triggering Shengelia, but the fundamental triples of Napier and Hall kept the balance (38-37). Following some back and forth between Mickey and Melli under the scoreboards, Mirotic from the arc extinguishes the effects of a triple from Hackett and then takes over Shengelia from the low post, to repel the attacks of Flaccadori and his teammates (49-48 ).
Beyond a winning support from Voigtmann, the end of the third quarter was all Cordinier’s, who took the iron a couple of times and also gave Shengelia the triple which sealed the opening 30 minutes of the match at 55-51. However, Olimpia begins the last quarter, given that Napier, Tonut and Shields capitalize on the excellent red and white defenses to overtake their opponents, although then a dunk from Cordinier, a nice defensive move from Polonara and a lunge from Mickey restore the +3 Segafredo (60-57 with 7′ left).
Another couple of good plays from Cordinier and Polonara subsequently exploded the home crowd for the Juventus +9 (66-57 with less than 5′ to go). With a triple by Mirotic made after some errors from the arc by Melli and Napier, EA7 Emporio Armani kept alive at -6, but Lunbderg punished them with a spectacular jumper worth 70-62 with less than 100″ on the clock. Following a pair of free throws by Napier, a tap-in by Pajola seals the equalizer in the series for Segafredo. It ends 72-64.
THE SCORESHEET
Virtus Segafredo Bologna vs EA7 Emporio Armani Milano: 72-64 (1Q 12-17, 2Q 32-31, 3Q 55-51)
Virtus Segafredo Bologna: Cordinier 9, Lundberg 4, Belinelli 8, Pajola 4, Mascolo, Shengelia 21, Hackett 5, Mickey 11, Polonara 10, Zizic, Dunston, Abass.
Coach Luca Banchi
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan: Bortolani, Tonut 9, Melli 7, Napier 9, Ricci, Flaccadori 2, Hall 13, Caruso, Shields 5, Mirotic 13, Hines 4, Voigtmann 2.
Coach Ettore Messina
Referees: LANZARINI S. – ATTARD BM – BORGIONI D.
