Bologna, October 8 –
Virtus Segafredo Bologna vs Openjobmetis Varese: 115-84
(Q1 33 – 22; Q2 58 – 39; Q3 81 – 68)
Virtus Segafredo Bologna: Cordinier 11, Lundberg 11, Belinelli 23, Pajola 16, Dobric 10, Mascolo 2, Cacok 3, Hackett 2, Mickey 16, Polonara 10, Dunston 9, Abass 2.
Coach: Banchi
Openjobmetis Varese: Shahid 13, Cauley-Stein 6, Ulaneo 2, Woldetensai 4, Moretti 13, Librizzi, Virginio 3, Hanlan 22, Mc Dermott 12, Brown 9.
Coach: Bialaszewski
Refs: SAHIN T. – PERCIAVALLE A. – CATANI M.
First home game of the season for Coach Banchi’s V Nere who face Openjobmetis Varese at the Paladozza.
High rhythms from the tip off with both teams penetrating often in the basket in search of the two points, Polonara and Cacok move well under the boards while Dobric defends and restarts on the counterattack finding the tie with 5′ left from the first buzzer (9-9), 2/2 by Woldetensae and a triple by Cordinier for the first lead of the game (12-11); Segafredo tries to distance itself from its opponents with Dunston from mid-range, with Belinelli closing out the game from four, and with Polonara bagging the bianconeri for the +8, Varese calls a time out (21-13). Virtus defends well by not allowing easy shots to Moretti and his teammates. Lundberg officially debuts making himself the protagonist of the minibreak that allows his teammates to run away on +13, Varese tries to answer but Dunston and again Lundberg, with the three-point game, close the first quarter on the score of 33 to 22. Dunston always from the paint and Belinelli from three open the dances in the second quarter, Mickey takes everything that passes in the rebounding and registers himself on the scoreboard signing the +14 (40-26), now it is Pajola to become a thorn in the side of the red and white defense, both from the middle and from the arc becomes unreadable for his opponents, he also conquers rebounds and leads his teammates on the +20 with 3 ‘abundant from the interval. Polonara and Mickey collide with everyone and also find with continuity the way to the basket, Varese cannot get back, too strong at the moment the physicality of the V Nere, teams in the locker room on the score of 58 to 39. Pajola, Dobric and Lundberg produce plays and points, Openjobmetis tries to react by exploiting the arc and goes back to -16, Coach Banchi then calls time out less than 6′ from the third buzzer (67-51), Belinelli’s triple, Cordinier’s 2/2 at the free, but the red-and-whites try to sew up the disadvantage by attempting the solution from 6 and 75, Cordinier, Lundberg and Mickey, however, immediately send Varese back to -18 with 2′ to go in the third quarter (78 – 60). Great movement by Mickey under the basket who scores two more points with one hand, another opponent reaction that however stops at -14 after 30′ of play (81 – 67). Hackett also joins the scoreboard at the beginning of the fourth quarter, the Lombard team, however, doesn’t take it lying down and tries to hang on to the game by taking advantage of both free throws and three-point shots, Moretti puts in the -12 bomb and the Virtus bench calls time out with 7’ left (88-76). Virtus comes back in a positive way from the minute of suspension, with captain Belinelli scoring two threes in a row for 97-79. The two teams go cold and can’t find baskets, Cordinier unblocks the situation with a support and Dobric with two free throws brings the team over 100 points. Varese remains accurate from 3-point range with Virginio, but Virtus overcomes the 23-point lead thanks to Mascolo’s support (107-84) and does not concede any more points to its opponents. The game ends 115-84 after two triples by Alessandro Pajola and a dunk by Polonara.
