Sergio Scariolo sets goal and warns, “It’s going to be tough.”
Victoria Libertas Pallacanestro Varese – Virtus Bologna 82-87 after an overtime period
Virtus expels a very difficult court like Pesaro’s at the end of a 45-minute battle. Without Cordinier, Mickey and Ojeleye, Scariolo had to continuously experiment with atypical quintets with three playmakers on the court at the same time, or with Shengelia the only long. Carpegna Prosciutto, full of as many as 6 former “Bolognese” and with Jasmin Repesa on the bench, struggled to the end pushed by bomber Abdur-Rahkman and Kravic.
In the first half it was a challenge between the second and third best offense in the league, while in the remaining minutes of the match the percentages dropped due to a game that became increasingly tense. At the end of the regulation minutes victory seemed to be in Pesaro’s hands, but a hitherto lackluster Belinelli pulled the champion’s shot out of the hat, sending the teams into overtime. In the extra time Shengelia was the talk of the town, Teodosic produced the only treble of his match and Weems proved glacial. The leading team thus celebrates Boxing Day with a success.
After the match Sergio Scariolo, the coach of the Felsinei, commented on the hard-earned victory in a press conference, “Very important victory, fought, with character. At the important moment there were illuminated passes and heavy baskets. Throughout the last quarter we changed quintets and tried different options. At halftime we had to have Pajola infiltrate, even though the idea was to spare him. Milos was also very sick and clenched his teeth: we are really on dramatic physical emergency. We showed a will to win in the face of an opponent that was eager to compete; it was a good show for a great crowd. I thank everyone, ours and Pesaro’s,” he began.
“We want to get to the end of the first round ahead of the others, to then have some breathing room in the Italian Cup. Now we have two very difficult games, we will see who we can count on on the 30th against Fenerbahce,” Scariolo concluded.
