Virtus Bologna beats Olimpia Milano: Ivanovic rejoices, Poeta seeks no alibi

Great feat of Virtus Bologna, which in the big match against Olimpia Milano prevails 104-94 in a night of glory for Edwards (28 points, including 16 in the last quarter) and Alston (27 points). The standings now speak of a clear +6 for the Emilian team, increasingly the league leader, over the Meneghini, who share a share of 30 with Reyer Venezia. Great satisfaction for Dusko Ivanovic, while Peppe Poeta honored the evening’s opponents with words of high praise. There is no lack of regret for the possible missed feat by his team.

“At the end of the third quarter we were at -1, so we were alive – Poeta recalled -. However, when the fourth period started, we immediately lost two or three balls and we shut down. A real shame. Bologna was missing their point guards, but we know that they are able to give their best when they are in emergency. We tried to stretch the defense, but it didn’t do much good. Then we suffered the two days of rest against their four, but that should not be an alibi for us.”

“The course of the game was very clear, Virtus Bologna had more energy than we did,” Poeta added. “Edwards and Alston, who played guard, made it difficult for us in the one-on-ones and we suffered their initiative. They have a lot of athleticism in the wings, an aspect that helps them build a lot of play. We should have countered them with a balanced offense capable of losing few balls. We did not always succeed. Really a great pity that we lost this game.”

Unbridled enthusiasm instead for Virtus Bologna coach Dusko Ivanovic. “I think we played really well,” his comment, “We gave our best in the ball rotation and in transition. In defense we conceded something, but our turnovers created several difficulties for Olimpia Milano.”

“Our performance was of a high level. We always take the court with a mentality that Virtus Bologna has no problems, only solutions. Hence our show of strength against an opponent like Olimpia Milano, despite the conditions we are in at the moment,” Ivanovic concluded.