It’s the final time for the 2023 Frecciarossa Final Eight between Germani Brescia and Virtus Segafredo Bologna, seeded 8th and 2nd respectively in the draw.
This is the eighth of a Final Eight (15th overall) for Virtus Bologna, who had not reached the final game of the event since 2010 when they lost to Montepaschi Siena 83-75.
Virtus won the cup twice out of 7 finals, in 2001 and 2002 respectively against Scavolini Pesaro and Montepaschi Siena.
Considering all editions of the Coppa Italia, the Bianconeri have won the cup 8 times: 1973/74, 1983/84, 1988/89, 1989/90, 1996/97, 1998/99 in addition to the two already mentioned in 2001 and 2002.
In total the finals played will be 15 with the one being played against Germani Brescia today.
For the Lombards it is the second Italian Cup final after the one they lost to Turin in Florence in 2018 with 69:67. David Moss is the only player who was also in this final.
Brescia’s coach in 2018 was Andrea Diana, now Scariolo’s assistant at Virtus Bologna.
Where to see: Sunday 19 February at 6pm, Eleven Sports, NOVE and Eurosport 2
Referee: Roberto Begnis, Manuel Mazzoni, and Guido Giovannetti
PREVIOUS
There are three previous encounters between the two sides of the competition; the first two, dating back to the round of 32 of the 1990/91 season, played in two games that ended in Bologna’s double victory with 7 points at Brescia and 26 at home (81-88; 91-65).
The third refers to the quarterfinals played in 2018 and won by Brescia 97-83.
IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP
On December 18, 2022, during Day 12, the teams met in the first round at the PalaLeonessa A2A, with Weems (14 points) and Shengelia (13 points and 5 rebounds) driving Segafredo’s 77-89 win.
However, on February 5, 2023, on the 18th day, Bologna and Brescia met at the Segafredo Arena for the second leg, which was also won by the Bianconeri 84-78 thanks to 23 points from Belinelli and 18 from Shengelia.
THE COACHES
Sergio Scariolo and Alessandro Magro have never met in the Italian Cup.
Virtus coach Segafredo is in his first final at this event, having reached the semifinals and quarterfinals twice in the past.
For the Germani coach it is the first final in the Italian Cup after last season’s semi-final against Milan.
THE CURIOSITY
The only time the number 2 and number 8 met in the final was the 2016 edition, played in Milan and won by Olimpia (number 2) against Avellino (number 8) 82-76.
On two other occasions the number 8 of the draw has reached the final, one of them in 2008 when she lost to Avellino 73-67.
The only team that managed to lift the trophy from 8th place was Umana Reyer Venezia in the 2020 edition, played in Pesaro, beating Bologna in the quarterfinals, Milan in the semifinals and Brindisi in the final.
The number 2 has made it to the final six times and has won twice: Napoli 2006 and Milan 2016.
THE ABSENT
Germani Brescia – Troy Caupain is unavailable with a first degree pectoralis major tendon tear.
Virtus Segafredo Bologna – Isaia Cordinier is traveling because of a partial lesion of the right plantar fascia.
Leo Menalo is not available.
THE EX
Germani Brescia – David Moss played on loan (from Siena) for Virtus Bologna in the distant 2009–10 season and definitely showed his skills, averaging 11.3 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.
David Cournooh played for Virtus in 2018-19 and 2019-20, winning the Basketball Champions League in 2019 and signing 4 points at 15.4 appearances per game.
Virtus Segafredo Bologna – Awudu Abass played two super years (2018/19 and 2019/20) in Brescia, averaging 13.9 points and averaging 4.4 rebounds.
