Virtus Bologna reaches Eurocup Final

Virtus Bologna became the first-ever Italian finalist in the 7DAYS EuroCup by downing Spanish host Valencia Basket 73-83 in front of a sellout crowd at La Fonteta on Wednesday. Virtus will host the final against Frutti Extra Bursaspor at home on Wednesday, May 11. The winner will become a first-time 7DAYS EuroCup champion and earn the right to play in the 2022-23 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.

Toko Shengelia led the winners with 15 points. Marco Belinelli added 14, Milos Teodosic 12, and Jakarr Sampson 10 for Virtus. Jasiel Rivero led Valencia with 17 points, Xabi Lopez-Arostegui added 16, and Louis Labeyrie 11. Lopez-Arostegui and Rivero shined early to give Valencia a 16-11 lead. Belinelli and Shengelia fueled a 1-14 run that allowed Virtus to regain the lead, 19-27, after 10 minutes. Shengelia kept pacing Virtus, getting help from Kyle Weems and Teodosic to boost the guests’ lead to 38-50 at halftime. Lopez-Arostegui and Rivero stepped up after the break, bringing Valencia within 58-62 at the end of the third quarter. Daniel Hackett and Isaia Cordinier stepped up in crunch time as Virtus got a 63-76 margin and never looked back.