Basketball, Napoli hit, Virtus Bologna beaten 92-89
In a sold out Palabarbuto, Mayo and McDuffie lead the team to success (92-89) against Bologna
Surprise at noon: the newly promoted Napoli beats (with merit) 92-89 Virtus Bologna unbeaten this season (eight out of eight between the championship, Eurocup and Supercoppa) and, considering last season, by 18 games (last knockout on 10 May, at home against Trento, the last of the regular season). A clear success, built by coach Pino Sacripanti with intelligence and patience against the tricolors who appeared for long stretches tired and nervous.
BEAUTY
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In the first 20 ‘Naples immediately offers a test of rare beauty, with McDuffie who drives the Bolognese defense crazy by scoring (3/4 from 6.75) and with the Lithuanian Velicka impressive for the lucidity expressed. So it happens that Bologna (in Naples without Teodosic, Mannion and Jaiteh) has always ticked off, never gives the impression of being in the game apart from the opening minutes. He suffers a lot in defense, in attack he has only points from Weems, for the rest he is a jumble of poor ideas and equally poor productivity. No double-digit player in the points scored after 20 ‘, bad from 3, in short, little general desire. In Naples it does not seem true to play the game, even with Mayo in the last game (he returns to the States tomorrow for serious personal problems, the club is looking for a replacement, it will not be easy to find him) and Rich always unconvinced to shoot. The 48-37 of the long rest also coincides with the maximum advantage of the morning, +11.
NO STRESS
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Upon returning, the usual Weems tries to shake Bologna, even the -1 (53-52) arrives after 4 ‘but it is a flash in the pan, either because Scariolo’s team always makes a lot of mistakes (just 1/6 in the free by Pajola …), while Gevi finds resources from everyone on the turn. The new extension arrives without too much stress (68-58 at 30 ‘), Mayo (mvp) and McDuffie are irrepressible, at 35’ the maximum advantage reaches +12 (80-62). The public (Palabarbuto sold out with 2,400 official appearances) is irrepressible, the team never loses its compass. But it’s not over yet: fatigue makes itself felt, Napoli make too many mistakes and thus we arrive at 15 ”from the siren at 88-87 with two triple from Weems. After 3 ”Pajola fouls Mayo who scores 2/2: 90-87. On the overturning of Elegar’s foul on Cordinier at -8 ”: 2/2, 90-89. Time-out, the ball reaches Elegar who is fouled: 2/2 at -7 “, 92-89. Bologna throw-in, with Hervey failing the triple of the possible overtime: it ends 92-89 with Napoli thus hitting a victory that is not only prestigious, but certainly fundamental in a key salvation.
Naples: McDuffie 22, Mayo 19, Parks 15.
Virtus Bologna: Weems 23, Hervey 14, Cordinier 12.
24 October – 14:38
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