Cantù Pushes Italian Champions Virtus Bologna to the Brink in Close Friendly
Cantù, Italy – Acqua S. Bernardo cantù delivered a spirited performance against reigning Italian champions Virtus Bologna, falling just short in a 72-75 friendly match played behind closed doors today. The game showcased a significant jump in intensity for Cantù as they prepare for the upcoming season, and highlighted the prosperous return of key player ajayi.
Cantù started strong, matching Virtus’s early three-pointers and leading for much of the first quarter, ultimately closing the period down 23-26. The return of ajayi, recovering from muscle fatigue sustained during the team’s retreat, provided an immediate boost.While Virtus extended their lead to double digits in the second quarter, Cantù fought back, with Basile breaking a scoring drought, but trailed 38-47 at halftime.
The third quarter saw a revitalized Cantù emerge from the locker room, surprising Bologna with increased intensity. Bortolani‘s three-pointer brought the score to within one point, and Cantù had opportunities to take the lead, ultimately ending the quarter trailing 58-61.
The final quarter was a back-and-forth affair. Ajayi scored early to bring Cantù within one, but Virtus responded, building a lead that Cantù relentlessly chipped away at. In the final seconds, Cantù mounted a late break, narrowing the gap to one point with just eight seconds remaining. However, Virtus secured the win with perfect free-throw shooting, finishing the game 72-75.
Bortolani led Cantù in scoring with 14 points, followed by Basile with 17. For Virtus, Edwards led all scorers with 20 points, while Smailgic contributed 15.
“We made a good performance against a great team,” said Cantù head coach Nicola Brienza. “It is clear that,compared to the latest releases,the level of physical and technical intensity has risen. We had some moments of difficulty, but we were good at finding solutions to always remain attached and thus playing a point to point. I am happy with everyone’s performance and the return of Ajayi: today he gave only a few minutes of rotation, because it is vital to manage his return. Tomorrow another challenge against a very strong team awaits us and we will try, as always, to take another step forward.”
The friendly serves as valuable planning for Cantù as they continue their pre-season schedule, facing another strong opponent tomorrow. The team’s ability to compete closely with the Italian champions signals a promising outlook for the season ahead.
Game Statistics:
* Acqua S. Bernardo Cantù: 72 (Gilyard 7, Bowden 4, Moraschini 2, Ballo 10, bortolani 14, Sneed 8, Basile 17, Ajayi 4, Okeke 6)
* Virtus Bologna: 75 (Vildoza 5, Edwards 20, Niang 7, Smailgic 15, Alston 8, Morgan 8, Diarra 2, Jallow 5, Diouf 5)
