Virtus gets up again, Milan beaten. The final is wide open

Going close on Sunday, Virtus grabs the first point in the final series against Milan, goes 1-2 and on Friday they will try to equalize to reopen the series to all predictions. It wins 69-61 but apart from the last Milanese backlash, Virtus took control from the beginning of the second half with double-digit advantages. More concrete, containing the turnovers in the key moment, going to look for points inside the Milanese fort, with 70% from two Vu’s he also found the men of the match in Teodosic and Shengelia: relentless in repelling Milanese return attempts, altruistic, 7 per the Serbian 6 for the Georgian, and Milos also a shot with 5/6 shooting. But what exalted the group were also the baskets of a determined Hackett who in the end was the striker of the evening with 13 points. Milan crippled by 27% from three, slowly gave way to the black Vu, with a few ideas from Napier and an emblematic 1/8 from three for Shields. When she lacks archery, Olimpia hardly wins.

Tense nerves and a cold hand at the start but it was Milan that made the first push, Baron for 7-13, but Vu found Belinelli and Teodosic to reply. Olimpia maneuvered well, good shots but poor aim and Vu found the advantage with a basket from 19-17. It was the best moment for Virtus who found the rhythm to run and shoot: there was born a +9, 29-20 that set fire to the Segafredo Arena, but that didn’t reckon with a Milan that clung to his talent while the Vu didn’t know how to strike the hot iron. A few misfires by Belinelli while Shields and Baron put it and at rest Virtus went there with a 5-point lead but could also complain a little, in front of the 7 turnovers. Virtus came out better from the rest with Teodosic who hit undersized and there was a 44-33 draw with 5′ 40” left and Milan seemed to have won, after Shields had taken a seat on the bench after the third foul. And Belinelli with softness from three meters put the 52-42 from the center of the area, the score with which the challengers slipped the avenue towards the finish line. Shileld returned and tried to light up but they were only tools, while Virtus found assists from Shengelia, a layup from Teodosic and a +12, 65-53 with 2′ to go. It ended there in fact with the chants for the magician Milos recalled to the bench and a tackle by Pajola to close an excellent match front and back.