By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
After missing Game 4 and sitting out most of Game 5 due to a head injury, Tornike Shengelia powered through in the fourth quarter and sent Virtus Segafredo Bologna to the Semifinals of Italy’s LBA Playoff Unipol.
Limited to three minutes in the deciding game of a best-of-five series, the 33-year-old forward took over the offense in crunch time and finished with seven points, including a crazy go-ahead mid-range make with 47.5 seconds in the fourth quarter. Solid defensive efforts followed to protect a two-point lead and seal an 86-84 victory in Virtus Segafredo Arena on Tuesday.
Midway through the fourth period, his side was trailing by a margin of nine points. Facing a Quarterfinals exit, head coach Dusko Ivanovic checked in Shengelia to eventually save the day. Meanwhile, Daniel Hackett went for 21 points, a new personal best for the 2024-25 season.
Completing the Semifinals picture, the team based in Bologna set up a best-of-five series versus fellow Turkish Airlines EuroLeague participant, EA7 Emporio Armani Milan. In addition to the first and fourth seeds of the 2024-25 Regular Season, second-seeded Trapani Shark and third-seeded Germani Brescia are on the other side of the bracket.
LBA Playoffs
Quarterfinals (best of five)
Virtus Segafredo Bologna – Umana Reyer Venice 3-2 (90-85, 77-75, 82-89, 78-84, 86-84)
Dolomiti Energia Trento – EA7 Emporio Armani Milan 1-3 (70-73, 70-67, 79-107, 82-89)
Germani Brescia – Trieste 3-1 (89-77, 92-103, 80-70, 92-88)
Trapani Shark – UnaHotels Reggio Emilia 3-0 (80-75, 102-88, 90-83)
Semifinals (best of five)
Virtus Segafredo Bologna – EA7 Emporio Armani Milan
Trapani Shark – Germani Brescia
Finals (best of five)
Winners of Semifinals