Virtus Bologna drew first blood in the Italian league finals, securing a narrow 90–87 win over Brescia in a thrilling Game 1 at the Segafredo Arena. It was a battle of nerves and depth, with the hosts recovering from a slow start to finish strong and take the early lead in the best-of-seven series.
The standout performer was Tornike Shengelia, who delivered a dominant 29-point display, spearheading Virtus’s comeback with leadership and poise. He was well supported by Matt Morgan, who came alive in the second half to finish with 19 points and a string of crucial plays down the stretch.
Brescia, for its part, showed resilience and character, staying in contention until the final buzzer thanks to the efforts of Bilan and Rivers. However, the visitors suffered a major setback with the groin injury to big man Maurice Ndour, who exited midway through the game and is now in doubt for upcoming fixtures.
Milano levels the series: Virtus Bologna beaten 85-66 in game 2
02 Jun - 23:58 •
1' min
Despite still missing key players like Clyburn and Polonara, Virtus leaned on its collective strength and rebounding edge, executing better in the final possessions. The support of nearly 10,000 fans at the Segafredo Arena added an extra push in crunch time.
The series now moves to Game 2, set for Saturday night in Bologna. Brescia will look to level things up, while Virtus aims to protect home court and take a commanding 2–0 lead before the series shifts.
