Virtus secured its sixth win in the EuroLeague. Luca Banchi’s team triumphed in the Italian derby in the eighth round against Milano by 86-79.
Milano opened the game with a 5-0 lead. Virtus responded with a 10-4 run, turning the tide. Towards the end of the first quarter, the visitors played better. At one point, they had a six-point lead, and after ten minutes of play, they led 26-21.
At the start of the second quarter, Ognjen Dobric came to life. With excellent play on both ends, the Serbian representative pushed his team to equality. In the final moments of the first half, the team from Bologna completed a full turnaround and went into halftime with a five-point advantage.
The second half was better opened by the visiting team, creating a turnaround with a 14-5 run. Virtus responded with a 7-2 run, taking a 57-56 lead. A fierce battle ensued until the end of the third quarter, with the home team entering the last ten minutes with a two-point lead.
The team from Bologna had a better start to the final quarter. Through excellent defense, they managed to pull away, gaining a seven-point advantage. Milano didn’t give up easily. The guests tried every way to get back into the game. However, the home team had an answer for everything, securing the victory.
Iffe Lundberg led his team to victory with 19 points, while Tornike Shengelia added 14. On the other side, Shavon Shields was the top scorer with 21 points.
The team from Bologna now has six wins and two losses, and they will play away against Panathinaikos. Milano remains with only two wins, with their next match taking place at home against Anadolu Efes.