It was the championship series for the last three years. The same two teams have finished first and second in the last three regular seasons. And in the standings they are tied for the second place (together with Reyer Venezia). Virtus Bologna-Olimpia Milano is a classic game that transcends standing interests, but at this point in the season is really important. After the game in Bologna, there will be eight remaining to finish the regular season: they are not few considering that the direct clashes between the top four in the standings are still to be played, but they are not many either.
Olimpia is facing a crucial turning point in its season: after Bologna, it will go to Venice. The final position slot will be mostly decided within eight days. Eventually, there will be games with Napoli at home and Reggio Emilia on the road. So, over four rounds four of the top six teams are faced.
However, Olimpia comes to this game off seven consecutive victories in the Italian league. And morale is high, after the good game – with the win – in the EuroLeague against Partizan. The other side of the coin says that Virtus is 9-1 at home (the only defeat was against Venezia, by a one-point margin) and Olimpia’s last win in Bologna dates back to Game 1 of the 2022 championship series. After that win, eight losses in a row came up between the Italian league and the EuroLeague. Finally, Olimpia enters the game with just one rest day (Virtus had two). However, Olimpia has won all of the last five games played on a short rest (this is the eleventh, the record so far is 7 -3). “It’s a very important game, and it’s unfortunate not to have been able to prepare it with more time and energy available after the tough game vs Partizan. We will have to try to have a good defense against their offensive transition, in which Bologna is very dangerous with the cuts of the big men and the open shots created for Marco Belinelli. Then it will be important to develop a good offensive balance between inside and outside,” Messina said upon leaving Milano to Bologna.
Olimpia won’t Alex Poythress and Stefano Tonut available. Billy Baron is out for the season and “we will only decide tomorrow what to do with Shavon Shields who reported pain in the tendon of his left foot after the Partizan game,” Messina added.
