Repesa fears fatigue

The championship is back and Olimpia travels to Bologna to take on Virtus Bologna at the Unipol Arena (8:30 p.m. two-way ball). Milan is riding a streak of seven consecutive wins against the Felsinians that includes two games played on Bologna’s parquet. “Obviously we are tired after playing four games in six days and with a long trip in between. This, combined with some injuries and discomfort, makes the trip to a court where historically it is difficult to prevail. Virtus will play an emotionally intense game; for us to win we will have to be able to do the same and show how much we have improved in terms of mentality,” Coach Jasmin Repesa said on the official website of the Milanese club.

MILAN-BOLOGNA: THE BACKGROUND

Virtus Bologna vs. Olimpia Milano is one of the great classics of Italian basketball. These are the two teams that have won the most championships, 26 for Olimpia and 15 for Virtus. Olimpia has also won the equivalent of the current Euroleague three times, Virtus has won it twice. The record says 96-71 for Olimpia. In Milan, the tally is 64-20 for Olimpia but there was also a neutral court game, Coppa Italia quarterfinals, in Turin in 2012, also won by Olimpia. In Bologna it is 51-32 for Virtus. Olimpia won all five games played last season including the three in the playoffs quarterfinals and the first leg game this season. In playoff history, Virtus Bologna and Olimpia Milano have played for the Scudetto only twice. In the 1978-79 season, Dan Peterson’s Banda Bassotti surprisingly made it to the final act of the post-season against the very strong Virtus coached by Terry Driscoll.

There was no history and Virtus won 2-0 (played best of three games). The final of the 1983/84 season was much more hard-fought: Virtus won game 1 at San Siro and was also leading game 2 to close the score when Dino Meneghin was ejected for protests.

Despite the loss of its center, Olimpia executed a stunning comeback and went on to win 75-71 postponing the scudetto award to the “bella” to be played in Milan. Olimpiadvice to play it without Meneghin disqualified. It came out a point-to-point contest that was settled by Virtus. Roberto Brunamonti’s dunk became the symbol of Virtus’ scudetto, the tenth in its history. The game ended 77-74. In all in the playoffs, the two teams have faced each other 23 times, Olimpia’s 12-11 balance in individual games. It is 4-3 Virtus on the other hand in the individual series.

THE MILAN-BOLOGNA CONNECTION

Alessandro Gentile played in the Black Wolves only one season, but in the youth sector when his father Nando coached in Legadue at Imola. Virtus coach Giorgio Valli is a former having been an assistant first to Piero Bucchi and then to Dan Peterson four years ago. Among the greats who have played for both teams, Russ Schoene, Vittorio Gallinari, Marco Bonamico (however, in Milan he stayed only one year and was on loan), Mason Rocca and David Moss should be noted, but in Bologna he also coached Sandro Gamba, Olimpia’s flagman as a player.

MILAN-BOLOGNA: THE REFEREES

The Bologna-Milan game will be directed by Dino Seghetti (Olimpia’s fourth appearance in games this season), Alessandro Martolini (third appearance, including the first leg match between the same two teams, and rookie Valerio Grigioni.