Goodbye Euroleague, Virtus closes with a smile: Milan beaten

BOLOGNA – Segafredo hopes it will be a goodbye to the Euroleague but in the meantime she closes and greets her return season among the big names in Europe, beating Armani 89-84. He wins it with defense, leaving only 16 points to the Milanese in the last quarter and with Hackett furore from Romagna for an evening as leader: 25 points with 9/11 shooting, 10 assists and full charisma for the boy from Forlimpopoli. He was joined by a surgical Belinelli, 21 points with 5/10 in the triples, a Shengelia assist man, 7 in the match and a substantial Jaiteh 13 points and a lot of presence under the basket.

Still out Teodosic and Pajola, Mannion was added with back pain for a Virtus that closed the first half behind by 8 lengths, 39-47. After a substantially balanced start, 10-12 and then 15-16 after a triple by Belinelli, Milan ground up its mix better and with shots from Pangos and Shields they extended halfway through the second half. With a triple from Armani’s point guard there was the Milanese -12, 25-39 at 4′ from the break. Shengelia took care of giving a jolt with baskets and assists for a suddenly ignited Jaiteh. A handful of points to go into the break at 39-47.

On his return a Vu from the easy triple, Belinelli, Hackett, Shengelia, reached -1 after 1’30” of play, at 51-52. And then with a three-pointer from Hackett at 54 all. Milan let the outburst pass and extended again but Vu behind raised the laps in defense, even if he was unable to do anything on a 7-meter triple by the old Datome. He replicated a 2+1 by Hackett to go to the decisive 10′ on 65-68. but if a triple Hackett put the arrow on 70-68, Armani collected but still found the Bolognese basket.

Then a series of terrific defenses by Vu gave life to a mini draw: 76-62 at 4′ 42” Jaiteh protagonist. She came out the Hines totem for 5 fouls 2′ from the siren it was 83-76. At 1′ 24” Hackett dribbling made it 85-76. Armani blaze with a three-pointer from Voigtmann at 45”: 87-84. Ojeley from the line: 89-84 and it was the epilogue.

Virtus-Olympia 89-84
Virtus: Hackett 25, Belinelli 21, Ojeleye 7, Shengelia 15, Mickey 4, Lundberg, Jaiteh 13, Weems 2, Bako 2. All. Scariolo
Olympia: Pangos 5, Hall 8, Shields 5, Voigtmann 19, Davies 10, Baron 14, Tonut 4, Ricci, Datome 8, Hines 8, Thomas 3. All. Messina
Referees: Garcia, Mogulkoc, Rocha.
Note: free: F 18/28, W 11/12. From two: V 22/35, O 20/33. From three: W 9/23, W 11/25. Rebounds: W 25, W 31. Assists: W 23, W 20.
Partial: 5′ 10-12, 10′ 22-26, 15′ 25-34, 20′ 39-47, 25′ 54-58, 30′ 65-68, 35′ 76-72. Maximum lead V: +9 (85-76) in the 39th minute. Maximum disadvantage: -14 (25-39) in the 16th minute.