Dusko Ivanovic's men will take on Real Madrid in the EuroLeague Playoffs
Baskonia knocks out Virtus, 89-77, in the final play-in game
Game Report
3 Mins read
Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz romped to a resounding 89-77 home win over Virtus Segafredo Bologna in their decisive play-in clash on Friday, sealing a playoff berth and a best-of-five showdown against defending champs Real Madrid.
Markus Howard paced Baskonia with a game-high 28 points, having set a new post-season record of 19 three-point shots attempted. Howard made 8 of those 19 from downtown and just 1 of 7 from two-point range, but he sank some clutch shots which propelled Baskonia to a massive 15-point lead at the end of the third quarter.
Matt Costello chipped in with 19 points for the hosts and Tadas Sedekerskis added 16 to go with 7 rebounds, having scored 11 points in the first quarter when most of his teammates struggled on the offensive end. Toko Shengelia led Virtus with 16 points and 7 rebounds, Daniel Hackett scored 13 points while Marco Belinelli, Iffe Lundberg and Isaia Cordinier netted 10 each for the visitors.
Game Videos
- 01:02
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/01/18/PMk8wy1Hp5ye8TOkEDer6JxuEuAtKcKs-1737162915594.jpg]()
Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot: 'We have great talent in this team and great potential'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/f2lSCiFqFIY/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz-Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens | RS Round 22 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:17
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/01/18/FiNUCwrnTjlx3plQ5x8Ib0LiQfty6WLo-1737162634643.jpg]()
Toko Shengelia: 'Our fighting spirit kept us in the game'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/etWLWayxwgs/maxresdefault.jpg]()
FC Bayern Munich-Virtus Segafredo Bologna | RS Round 22 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:22
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/01/17/wFxAn51A3tPXpoakbCpFjVPU6qgaOnGq-1737152709414.jpg]()
Luwawu-Cabarrot dishes it behind the back! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/0520b8f2-ea6e-4401-81b3-448a234e9665.jpg?crop=903%3A508%3Anowe%3A139%3A18]()
Polonara with the reverse dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:17
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/e724fa10-c47a-4c7a-ace4-4f2f2e70066e.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A47%3A51]()
Donta Hall slams it! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/WKlEGDGTAk0/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Zalgiris Kaunas-Virtus Segafredo Bologna | RS Round 21 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:16
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9eb1f076-d29f-40d5-a432-19c888de7dfc.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A91%3A103]()
Shengelia dunks on Birutis! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/d26ed1c8-5dcd-40bd-be8c-6d203292e176.jpg?crop=591%3A332%3Anowe%3A153%3A31]()
Belinelli turns playmaker! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/lS-5zq9D4OM/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz-Olympiacos Piraeus | RS Round 21 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/8ddffe33-c895-42d2-b0b6-7cc91cf58dd2.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A115%3A46]()
Hall rejects Fournier! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:07
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/59848142-e138-4fea-9c4f-f1ec2052ae8f.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A74%3A71]()
Luwawu-Cabarrot stops McKissic! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:25
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/01/10/ON1K5ir2pMVk2z0DopmnQnXCIwW1enAI-1736546779678.jpg]()
Matt Morgan: 'We put up a great effort'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/636d7b2a-d528-4fef-98c6-1275aa304158.jpg]()
Virtus Segafredo Bologna-Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | RS Round 20 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/022f9d5e-4674-4f01-aa0a-710119fdca06.jpg?crop=1920%3A1080%3Anowe%3A0%3A0]()
Virtus's Riccardo Visconti joins the EuroLeague & Friends podcast for episode No. 11
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/h0ya5zSVphw/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens-Virtus Segafredo Bologna | RS Round 19 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/p9dJG5CrrMw/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz-Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade | RS Round 19 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:17
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/e65d970b-4632-4929-90b5-895db19c8029.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A120%3A89]()
Big one-hander from Donta Hall! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:27
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/27/zV8tQmyzuxBZ95WdlTVtyci3fa9rZtWJ-1735340918948.jpg]()
Achille Polonara: 'Coach Dusko gave me a lot of confidence'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/8y-Jl0Z9MaQ/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Virtus Segafredo Bologna-LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne | RS Round 18 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:28
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/27/G3qN9yoUiKT1nqLjIbpIcgrEUfytZh4m-1735337631597.jpg]()
Big CONNECTION Forrest-Hall! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
- 00:54
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/27/HzVCuQxg0xaFJ6wCIpCfhKPA39Zb98Ub-1735341381848.jpg]()
Chima Moneke: 'This is my favorite game I've ever been a part of'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/zbkgaAqrFLY/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz-Paris Basketball | RS Round 18 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/e6d5a464-f875-455d-a5e9-6a0a24e16232.jpg?crop=1350%3A759%3Anowe%3A0%3A123]()
Hall throws it down! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:19
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/7613b552-b114-4f62-a400-bac7a16689b0.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A129%3A12]()
Moneke stops Shorts! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:23
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/b2ff977b-9175-4fb7-875e-f17723c214de.jpg?crop=1010%3A569%3Anowe%3A176%3A82]()
Polonara alley-oop completes team move! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:13
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/20/B2KJQcVVjZQOcfKbhLuA2utmTA7qNzUR-1734737624137.jpg]()
Isaia Cordinier: 'We miss you, Toko!
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/MNO1RPkJITw/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Virtus Segafredo Bologna-FC Barcelona | RS Round 17 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:16
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/4dab62ae-417e-4b0d-9d39-1af3707564d9.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A109%3A128]()
Diouf dunks after classy Cordinier pass! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:16
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/dae9055d-488d-4422-98b1-b4abce99934d.jpg?crop=1046%3A589%3Anowe%3A194%3A81]()
Cordinier out of nowhere with the block! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:27
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/bb96d3f6-1448-45a3-8519-5cbfbd81ec17.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A270%3A50]()
Jump ball leads to Clyburn dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/4dab62ae-417e-4b0d-9d39-1af3707564d9.jpg?crop=634%3A357%3Anowe%3A216%3A142]()
Diouf swats Nunez! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/qf9io_7AvuE/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens-Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | RS Round 17 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/ee192902-44ed-49f6-8b42-fa51ab79f895.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A115%3A70]()
Nice alley-oop from Diop! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/2705678b-bcca-415f-867f-87dc8c8d2cc3.jpg]()
Olympiacos Piraeus-Virtus Segafredo Bologna | RS Round 16 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/285de101-6c2e-48e1-b15f-749a9e7673bd.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A129%3A164]()
Clyburn beats the halftime buzzer from deep! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:38
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/17/9Z6ymh3lK3wjnREsMeHTbdZoDqSU1dBG-1734470302799.jpg]()
Chima Moneke: 'This is our best win of the season'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/K3myS2EETAk/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv-Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | RS Round 16 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/25b1692c-1ee1-4898-b9a8-4f7678238fb8.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A132%3A41]()
Donta Hall makes creative bucket! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:58
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/13/yiYw7J1mdObtBpxioZUlot8gA6GBlW0A-1734080491542.jpg]()
Dusko Ivanovic: 'Tonight, we had luck'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9784b387-7c1e-4d89-b6a0-645268f0b32d.jpg]()
Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz-Virtus Segafredo Bologna | RS Round 15 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:16
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/ece3dd1c-da77-4e53-9e3f-293a5989bff2.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A126%3A135]()
Clyburn banks in the improbable shot! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/70d0a86d-5502-4469-8b4d-ca4b50a1ffee.jpg?crop=1214%3A683%3Anowe%3A71%3A57]()
Hall rises for spectacular swat! Motorola Magic Moment,
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/7b61257e-b9ee-44d2-91d4-46d0e1c150a4.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A135%3A80]()
Hall says give me that! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/_AHQFNY7GeU/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Virtus Segafredo Bologna-Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade | RS Round 14 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:30
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/d97c0f1a-1eb4-4a5d-809f-d6c556a42aa5.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A132%3A24]()
Clyburn and Cordinier combine for the perfect play! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/f2facf28-8946-41f7-8741-ff953f6bc2a5.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A164%3A27]()
Polonara denies Daum! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/a7338539-b552-4291-be32-4ae0cc61e82b.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A161%3A52]()
Shengelia and Cordinier sweet combination! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:31
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/05/UX9S9s5euN2NMqwbcOrPWUlWoksy6hB7-1733440995839.jpg]()
Devin Booker: 'We had the energy from the fans'
Sedekerskis scored the opening 9 points for Baskonia and Belinelli replied with 8 in a row for Virtus in a fast-paced start to the game, with both sides inviting long-range shots from the opposition by cramming their own paint.
The home side carved out a 19-14 lead but a 2-8 run by the visitors turned the tide at the end of the opening period, setting the stage for a captivating see-saw battle in the second quarter. With Sedekerskis subdued following his rip-roaring start to the contest, Howard and Costello kept Baskonia going and the rivals were tied 41-41 at halftime. Virtus racked up more rebounds (20-15) but also struggled to take care of the ball as the Italian side committed 9 turnovers while dishing out a mere 6 assists in the first half.
In contrast, Baskonia had 10 assists and just 2 turnovers in the opening two quarters and that trend continued in the third, when the home team produced a decisive 12-0 streak early on. Howard was instrumental in it with a pair of three-pointers and the livewire guard kept firing on all cylinders, netting a total of 14 points in the third quarter as Baskonia romped away into a 72-57 lead ahead of the final 10 minutes.
Virtus tried to launch a fightback in the fourth but roared on by its fervent fans inside Buesa Arena, Baskonia held firm as the Spanish side bounced back emphatically from its 113-85 blowout defeat at Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv in the first round of the play-in.
There is little doubt that having made the playoffs, Baskonia will now head confidently into the clash with Real after beating the champs 91-95 in Round 33 of the regular season.
