Brescia, historic triumph in the Italian Cup: Virtus Bologna beaten in the final

Germani Brescia wins the Frecciarossa Final Eight of the Italian Cup beating Segafredo Bologna 84-76 at the PalaAlpitour. A victory obtained thanks to a simply perfect performance by Magro’s team in terms of attitude, maturity, ability to read game situations and to restart after having nullified the 18-point advantage by burning Bologna in the sprint. However, it is impossible not to think of Amedeo Della Valle as the absolute protagonist of the final with 26 points (5/7 from 2, 2/7 from 3, 10/10 with free throws, 6 assists, 3 rebounds and 6 fouls conceded) and above all for ability to drag his teammates in the hot moments of the game: in the same city, Turin, where father Carlo took flight, today his son Amedeo has written a page in the history of basketball in Brescia and beyond. Because if it is true that the Italian Cup is usually fertile ground for surprise shots, in this Final Eight the Lioness, back from six consecutive defeats between the championship and the EuroCup, first ruled Milan in the quarterfinals, Pesaro in the semifinals and then in the final got rid of Segafredo practically leading from the tap-off. Two Euroleague formations beaten by one of the emerging realities of Italian basketball, which in 2018 had already come close to winning the cup by being mocked on the woolen thread by Turin: a half-revenge for Germani, who conquered her first basketball trophy professional in the city that snatched him from him.

Della Valle’s simply perfect performance

Looking at his arms and his physique, long but not broad and muscular, doubts arise about Della Valle’s effectiveness and athletic endurance. But as for the famous hornet theory, he doesn’t know it or at least, given that they repeated it to him to exhaustion, he doesn’t believe it and dominates the matches with his technique, his slaloms in the area, his boldness. It happened against a creepy external department like that of Scariolo, from Brescia and mocked by his native Brescia: in the footsteps of Della Valle, who in the face of a decidedly soft defense is simply unstoppable in attack, everyone took turns until the coach virtussino chose the area. Decision that initially did not pay off, given that after 38-52 in the third period Brescia reached +18, but which in the long run slowed down the Lombards when Belinelli turned on. The former San Antonio player finished with 24 points, dragging his team up to -1 in the fourth period (70-69, then 72-71): at that moment, when his legs were shaking and the Bolognese were flying, a penetration by Della Valle and a foul immediately gave the Lioness breath again. Again from the line came the 78-71 with just over a minute to play: the solidity of the frail Della Valle, the instinct of an exciting player when it’s the day.

Virtus has blocked the big appointment with the cup

The Coppa Italia has been missing from the Bianconeri’s bulletin board since 2002, when the Black Vu beat Benetton Treviso in the final. Another basketball, another Virtus compared to today’s one, which had in Belinelli and Shengelia (12 and 4 rebounds and a lot of energy in the moment of the comeback) the two best interpreters. It is surprising not to read Teodosic’s name among the best, but the Serbian point guard disappointed by finishing with only 7 points and 0/5 from 3, many shots of which were forced and without too much logic. Despite having chased for long stretches, the team of Scariolo and Diana’s deputy, who was the architect of Brescia’s promotion to Serie A, has never completely dissolved, not even when the points of detachment from the very hot Brescia became 18 (56 -38). Minute after minute, trying the area card to limit Della Valle, the Bolognese came into contact only to melt away in the decisive moments. Brescia had Della Valle and Petrucelli, Bologna lacked Teodosic and Weems: that’s not all, but it sure is a lot.

The group from Brescia made the difference

If Della Valle was able to catalyze Brescia’s attack in his hands, it was the solidity of Magro’s group that made the difference. “If you ask me to win a playoff series against Bologna, I see it tough, but anything can happen in the single game” the Brescia coach predicted the day before, a conscious prophet given the quality of his team’s defense in the first two games. Defense also confirmed in the final, where the Lombards showed character, grit, desire to help each other and to sacrifice themselves right from the start. Many expected the return of Virtus which actually happened, even if perhaps late: every time in turn the Brescians found their way to the basket, the winning play, the steal, the disputed rebound. It would not be right to diminish the performances of Petrucelli (13 and 5/5 free throws), Gabriel (9), Massinburg and also Odiase, who fought under the basket with giants such as Shengelia and Jaiteh. Cournooh’s contribution was also decisive, 8 points and some decisive baskets, or the defense of Moss. A team victory, which came as a surprise as per tradition: tonight against all odds, in Brescia we celebrate, in Bologna we question ourselves.