The first round of the scudetto final belongs to Olimpia Milano: in the Italian derby, in the eternal challenge with Virtus Bologna, scudetto final for the fourth consecutive championship, the team from Messina overturns the field factor (for the first time in the season against the black Vs) and after extra time he wins a very important break in view of the continuation of the series.
It ended 86-75, thanks to an overtime that Shavon Shields (25 points, nine of which in the first minutes of overtime) practically won alone, after 40 tense and balanced minutes with low scoring and super defenses applied as expected to a playoff final. In Bologna Shengelia (16 points) and Belinelli (14) were not enough, in Milan Napier (21) and Hall (18) were also on top
On Saturday evening we’ll be back to playing, again at the Virtus Segafredo Arena in Bologna, then we’ll move on to Milan where Olimpia will have the chance to win the scudetto at home. Unlike last season when the final was awarded after seven games, this year three victories will be enough to sew the scudetto on their shirt: at this point, Bologna can no longer afford to make mistakes.
THE MATCH
The news (Source: LBA Press Office) – Balanced start to the match, with Pajola and Tonut exchanging shots at the rim in transition and the first flashes of Cordinier and Shengelia to put Virtus ahead 6-4 against Melli and his teammates. Thanks to Pajola’s accelerations and a triple from Shengelia, Segafredo hits the accelerator pedal and a bomb from Cordinier widens the lead to +9 (18-9). A heavy triple from Napier shakes the guests, Hall also shortens to -5 from the line but Hackett makes the opening 10 minutes end in style for the Bianconeri (19-14).
Thanks to long-range baskets by Abass and Shengelia, it is once again Bologna that updates its maximum advantage to +11, the flashes of Napier and Mirotic in 1vs1 manage to shake Olimpia a little but by riding Lundberg and Shengelia, Segafredo remains in control of the match (29-19). At the end of the half, Melli and Shields put Milan on their shoulders to try to reduce the deficit, although then, by involving Zizic in the paint, it was Segafredo who kept the distance wide (33-25 after 20′).
Sprint start in the second half for Shabazz Napier, author of seven points in an amen and main propitiator of Olimpia’s comeback, which shortened the deficit – thanks also to Hall’s contribution – to 36-34. Despite a timeout called by coach Banchi trying to stop the bleeding, Hall’s winning cut and a triple in transition by Shields seal the overtaking of EA7 Emporio Armani, before the red and white number 31 supports the points of 38 with his right hand -43.
The shock to Segafredo comes from the spectacular four-point play by Belinelli, Shields and Hall, however, are glacial from distance and a second ring from the Juventus captain tries to keep Segafredo afloat (46-49). At the end of the quarter, Shields first combined with Hines and then hit another super triple at the siren, canceling the effects of a penetration by Lundberg and closing the opening 30 minutes of the match at 48-54. With a support from Belinelli and a triple from Lundberg, Bologna gets back into close contact but triples from Napier and Hall relaunch the Milanese lead (55-60 with 7′ to go).
The back and forth, however, continues on both sides, as Hackett and Shengelia respond to Mirotic and then Lundberg completes Virtus’ lead with free throws to overtake at 62-61 less than 4′ from the end. After a winning counterattack by Shields, Cordinier places the spectacular dunk of +2 Segafredo but Mirotic is lucid in gaining and making the equalizing free throws at 65 with 120″ still to play.
Cordinier himself then sends the overtaking free throw on target but misses the support that would have put full possession between the teams; Olimpia, however, misses a couple of shots with Napier and Mirotic and then a backdoor winner from Cordinier makes it 68-65 with 37″ to go. Coach Messina then entrusts the ball to Napier, who immediately scores the spectacular step-back triple which is worth yet another draw in the match with 33″ on the clock. Lundberg immediately looks for a reply but his attempt crashes on the rim.
Olimpia thus has one last chance in their hands but Napier is stopped by Pajola and Cordinier’s last “prayer” ends up well away from the basket. Thus we go to overtime (68-68).
The extra time began in the best way for EA7 Emporio Armani, who stopped Cordinier and Shengelia in defense and then capitalized in attack with a support on the scoreboard by Melli and a triple by Shields (68-73). Even though Shengelia then unlocked Segafredo with the clock stopped, Shields continued his show from the arc by signing two more triples of pure talent (70-79 with just over 2′ to go). Although a super triple from Belinelli tries to bring the home team closer together, a three-point play from Hall definitively closes the contest and gives Olimpia the 1-0 point. It ends 75-86.
THE SCORESHEET
VIRTUS SEGAFREDO BOLOGNA – EA7 EMPORIO ARMANI MILAN 75-86 (19-14, 14-11, 15-29, 20-14, 7-18).
Virtus Bologna: Cordinier 14 (8 reb), Lundberg 10, Belinelli 14, Pajola 7, Dobric, Mascolo ne, Shengelia 16 (8 reb), Hackett 3, Polonara, Zizic 8, Dunston, Abass 3. Coach: Banchi.
Olimpia Milano: Bortolani ne, Tonut 2, Melli 8 (7 reb), Napier 21, Ricci, Flaccadori, Hall 18 (7 reb), Caruso ne, Shields 25, Mirotic 7, Hines 5, Voigtmann. Coach: Messina.
