Virtus Segafredo Bologna managed to stay alive in the Italian League finals on Thursday as it defeated AX Armani Exchange Milan 84-78, to make it 3-2 in the best-of-seven series. Mam Jaiteh led the winners with 17 points, Toko Shengelia added 15 and Marco Belinelli posted 11. For Milan, Nicolo Melli led the way with 20 points, Sergio Rodriguez added 18 and Kyle Hines netted 15. The series will move now to Milan for Game 6 on Saturday. If Milan wins, it will claim its 29th Italian League title.
Domestic Leagues: Virtus beats Milan, forces Game 6
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The hosts started rolling with a 9-0 run in the first period led by 7DAYS EuroCup MVP Mam Jaiteh, that soon made it 21-8. Nicolo Melli broke the spell for Milan with three points of his own, as the first quarter ended 25-12. Milan started strong in the second period, led by Sergio Rodriguez in offense. The run climbed to 3-12 when Devon Hall blasted a three for Milan. Virtus seemed to find its pacing again but a new three by Luigi Datome made it 36-31 in minute 17 and 42-37 at the break. In the third period, Virtus managed to maintain some distance ahead, until Hines led Milan in the last minutes of the quarter to make it a 4-point game after 30 minutes, 62-58. A starting 0-6 put Milan ahead in the first minutes of the decisive period, and then again at 70-72 with Rodriguez's basket and less than 6 minutes to go. Milos Teodosic's three game some air to Virtus and the hosts never looked back again despite Milan's attempts to turn the thing around once more. A bucket by Isaia Cordinier with 1:39 to go made it 82-77 and the hosts managed the difference until the final buzzer.