Virtus Segafredo Bologna conquered the Italian Supercup title on Thursday with a hard-fourth 69-73 triumph over Dinamo Sassari Sardegna. Virtus jumped ahead 11-15 midway through the first quarter on a basket by Ismael Bako and finished ahead after 10 minutes by 19-23 on his three-point play. Sassari rallied in the second quarter to lead 49-43 at halftime. Semi Ojeleye tied it for Virtus on the first shot after halftime, but Sassari still led 59-57 after a defensive third quarter. The lead changed hands several times after that before Alessandro Pajola's basket meant a 69-69 tie entering the final minute. Only Jordan Mickey scored a basket after that, with 24 seconds left for Virtus. When Isaia Cordinier split free throws with 6 seconds left and Chris Dowe missed a long shot that would have forced overtime, Virtus emerged victorious. Mickey led the winners with 13 points while Cordinier and Marco Belinelli added 12 each and Bako 10.
Preseason: Virtus wins Italian Supercup, Maccabi to Israeli Cup final
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Maccabi aces Israeli Cup semifinal
In the Israeli Cup semifinals, Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv outgunned Hapoel Holon 97-91 to advance in what was the team's first official game of the season. Maccabi raced to a 27-19 lead after one quarter, expanded it to 52-40 by the break and kept pouring it on to lead 79-61 after 30 minutes. Holon reeled it back, but never threatened the outcome in Maccabi's favor. Alex Poythress led the charge for the winners with a double-double of 17 points, 11 rebounds. In the final, Maccabi Tel Aviv will face cross-town rival Hapoel Tel Aviv, which defeated Hapoel Jerusalem a night earlier in the first semifinal.