Thanks to the victory in Game 4 against Virtus Segafredo Bologna which earned them 3-1 in the LBA Finals UnipolSai 2024, EA7 Emporio Armani Milano won the 31st Scudetto in its history, further strengthening its leadership in the league’s roll of honour. Italian (the first pursuers are Virtus Bologna themselves at 16 and Pallacanestro Varese at 10).
THE MATCH
The news (Source LBA Press Office) – The start of the match is in the name of Hackett and his excellent shots at the rim, the power of MIrotic and Tonut however immediately unlocks Olimpia and a basket on the counterattack by Shengelia keeps the balance (6-7). With a series of low post movements from a wild Mirotic and five consecutive points from a concrete Tonut, however it may be, it is the EA7 Emporio Armani who pushes on the accelerator pedal and places an 11-0 break, before a great four-point play by Cordinier unlocks Segafredo (15-11).
Thanks also to Pajola’s great pride on both halves of the pitch, Virtus continues its ascent and Dunston puts the points of 17 all against Hall and his teammates on the scoreboard, leaving after the two good raids the shots to overtake the guest (17-21). . At the end of the quarter, Flaccadori hits an important triple in transition and finally a back and forth between Polonara and Voigtmann seals the opening 10 minutes at 22-23. After the comfortable supports on the counterattack from Hall and Voigtmann, Polonara equalized with a triple, but the Napier – Melli/Mirotic axis re-established the red and white advantage at 30-26.
Following a nice strike from Cordinier, however, triples from Melli and Napier set the Unipol Forum on fire and then five consecutive points from Mirotic updated the red and white’s maximum advantage over Lundberg and his teammates to 41-30. A jumper from the Dane with the Juventus number 1 and a nice move from Abass try to keep Segafredo alive but a wild Mirotic and Flaccadori’s free throws bring Olimpia up 12. The half was then sealed by a basket from underneath the buzzer by an excellent Abass, thus shortening the gap to 46-36 after 20′ of the game.
The second half begins with two consecutive Olimpia bombs scored by Melli and especially Mirotic, who becomes difficult to contain on the two halves of the pitch and sends the red and whites flying to +20 (56-36). The free throws made by Dunston and Cordinier interrupt the long Juventus bleeding, but then Shields also lights up from the perimeter and also triggers Hines in the paint, repelling the attacks of Dunston and his teammates (61-43).
After a winning penetration by Flaccadori, Polonara and a triple by Lundberg lead Segafredo’s proud reaction, however stemmed by Shields’ bomb which keeps the gap between the teams high (66-50 after 30′). However, Virtus shows all their determination with Polonara and Abass, Melli unlocks Milan with the clock stopped but a flash from Dunston brings Virtus back within 11 (68-57 with 6 and a half minutes to go).
After a free throw made by Mirotic, Lundberg goes wild with a great three-point play but once again Mirotic’s talent and Hall’s acceleration stop the opponent’s rise (74-60). An acceleration by Lundberg was subsequently replicated by the cynical Hall and the solid Shields, who definitively closed the dispute and put the seal on the Scudetto number 31 of the red and whites. It ends 85-73.
THE SCORESHEET
EA7 Emporio Armani Milano vs Virtus Segafredo Bologna: 85-73 (1Q 22 – 23, 2Q 46 – 36, 3Q 66 – 50)
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan: Bortolani ne, Tonut 7, Melli 12, Napier 3, Ricci ne, Flaccadori 9, Hall 8, Caruso ne, Shields 10, Mirotic 30, Hines 2, Voigtmann 4. Coach Ettore Messina
Virtus Segafredo Bologna: Cordinier 21, Lundberg 12, Belinelli, Pajola 2, Mascolo, Shengelia 4, Hackett 5, Mickey, Polonara 12, Zizic, Dunston 8, Abass 9. Coach Luca Banchi
Referees: LANZARINI S. – ATTARD B. – GIOVANNETTI G.
