Milan, 12 June 2022 – TheArmani AX Milan keeps intact the unbeaten home match between the regular season and the playoffs beating Virtus Segafredo Bologna 94-82 at the end of what was the most beautiful game in terms of entertainment in these championship finals now conducted 2-1 by Olimpia. Thus, the number of consecutive useful results collected in the league and at the Forum from Milan is extended to 19 which tonight, except for an empty pass at the beginning of the second quarter, has always led rhythms and scores, finding in Nicolò Melli (22 points and 5 rebounds) e Shavon Shields (19 points of which 10 in the first 5 ‘) the pillars to lean on. To say the least fundamental for Olimpia – who even in attack made the ball turn smoothly and at very high rates, shooting with excellent percentages (53.5% from two and almost 48% from three) – was the contribution provided by Gigi Datome (12 points) and especially from supporting cast players like Jerian Grant, who with his baskets at the end of the third quarter gave the decisive push to direct the sort of match, and Tommaso Baldasso. On the other hand, however, in another bad evening for the long bianconeri, the trio made up of Daniel Hackett (18 points and 10 fouls suffered), Marco Belinelli and Milos Teodosic (14 each) too alone.
The race
The departure is definitely of the Milanese brand and sparkling to say the least: dragged by a Shavon Shields from 10 points in less than 5 ‘, Olimpia starts very strong, putting eight of the first nine pitches attempted and reaching +9 (19-10). The first red and white advantage instead brings the signature of Melli (25-14) but Virtus has the merit of not collapsing and, with a partial of 13-6 fueled by the triples of Cordinier and Belinelli, close the opening quarter at -4 , mocked by the basket at the end of Biligha (31-27). A 7-0 powered by Hackett’s five yarn stitches calls everything into question and allows Virtus to place the overtaking leg (31-34). Milan still manages to resist this storm and replies with five points from Melli (36-36) who, however, then commits the third personal by returning to the bench. The pace picks up and Milan tries to take advantage of it by extending to +8 with Shields and Bentil (48-40), but Teodosic and Shengelia don’t fit in and halve the deficit in the middle of the race (48-43).
After the long interval Datome and Shields try to carry the weight of the Olimpia attack on their shoulders (53-48), but Virtus does not let go and clings to Teodosic’s inventions to stay on the waterline (53-52) . However, when Melli returns to the field and quickly rekindles things for Segafredo get complicated again. The long Reggiano, in fact, makes the devil four in attack and pushes him to +5. Baldasso does the rest with the triple of +8 that makes the Forum explode. Virtus also collects this uppercut but can do nothing when Grant exiting the bench puts seven in a row for the +10 red and white with 10 ‘from the end (68-58), to the cumine of a partial of 30-23. The bar of the Milanese advantage at the start of the fourth quarter is raised up to +12. On the other hand, Belinelli is not there and tries to reply by keeping Virtus hope alive with baskets. Hackett is no less with his fouls suffered, as well as Teodosic with his inventions but by now it is late and Milan is able to get his hands on the victory with the last flashes of Hines and Melli.