BOLOGNA. The seventh consecutive sin at the end of the regular season risks proving to be capital for the Euroleague of Virtus Bologna: the Baskonia of the prodigious Howard (34 points), supported worthily by Marinkovic (17), Miller-McIntyre (16) and Costello (6 but all very heavy), takes weight (91-95) and takes away eighth place which could have meant, in the worst case scenario, a double chance at the imminent Play-in. Instead, the free throw hit on the iron by Mickey, in yet another sprint finish of the continental walk, condemns Segafredo to tenth place and to Tuesday’s complicated trip to Istanbul in the Efes den, revitalized by seven successes in a row in the final laps. Very difficult mission, given the diametrically opposite trends (7 knockouts in a row for Bologna and 7 consecutive successes for Efes) of the duelists, which in case of success would not alone be worth the playoff entry in the mouths of league leaders Real Madrid: Virtus another blitz would be needed in Belgrade (temporary home of Maccabi) or in Vitoria (home of Baskonia who won yesterday) three days later.
Inaugurated by a minute of rigorous silence for the victims of the Suviana tragedy, preceded and followed by teasing between the Virtussina curve and the Fortitude delegation supporting the Baskonia twins, the play-off for eighth place travels on the tracks of balance for 16 ‘. A spell from Belinelli at the 10′ siren (22-21), a home +5 and a Basque +2 are the breaking points of a quarter and a half point by point. The first shock, masterfully directed by Hackett (11 points), was achieved by triples from Polonara and Lundberg, protagonists of Virtus’ first escape attempt (47-38). There is no better offense, however, than the defense, built around the Dunston redwood. Banchi, rotating all twelve players, also gets good things from Abass and Mickey (50-38), but Baskonia, scraping three men already in double figures in 20′ (Howard 13, Moneke 11 and Marinkovic 10), staggers but doesn’t give up at halftime (53-44). Vitoria’s rise, opened by a four-point play by Howard, proceeds at the start of the third quarter: 10-4 with the wind in the back of Ivanovic’s boat. Sailing against the wind and also taking on Dunston’s fourth foul, Segafredo sets sail from 57 with Shengelia and Belinelli. Baskonia, having found the route, never gives up: the heroics of Marinkovic and Miller-McIntyre lead to 67-69. Overtaken in the 28th minute, Virtus slips dangerously in the final corners of the third quarter: Zizic doesn’t do anything right, Sedekerskis and Howard make it 67-73. Two triples made by Dobric and Lundberg almost hide yet another prestigious number from the Miller-McIntyre juggler (74-75 in the 30th minute). Pajola, Abass and Mickey raise the barricades in defense, alleviating the pain in attack, and as soon as Polonara (three), Lundberg (18 points) and Abass hit the mark, Virtus returns to -1 again. Howard, as champion, takes over Baskonia (83-90), Abass and Mickey equalize (90-90). From the final sprint the winning silhouette of Costello emerges (4 points) while Virtus stops on Mickey’s missed free throw and on a mix-up by Belinelli (15 on the scoresheet). Bitter curtain on a regular season that ended in decline: from second place at Christmas to tenth, the entry number of a Play-in that promises to be uphill. And now, on Tuesday in Istanbul, Virtus must do Turkish things with Efes to continue their race in the Europe that counts.
Euroleague Play-in Pairings:
Maccabi Tel Aviv – Baskonia Vitoria
Efes Istanbul – Virtus Segafredo Bologna
: Virtus in the play-in from tenth against Efes in Istanbul){kind=link}