Lega A: Virtus Bologna vs Trento 19/05/2026

After Virtus’ shooting masterpiece in Game 1, a much tougher and more physical contest is expected this time, with Trento likely trying to slow the pace and use a more aggressive defensive approach to make the series far more competitive.

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The second game of the Italian playoff quarterfinal series will be played in Bologna, where Virtus will look to confirm the break from the opening matchup and move one step closer to the semifinals. The first game was a complete domination by the home side, who cruised to a 102–71 victory, but the way they achieved such a convincing win was quite unusual. Virtus made only 12 two-point field goals, yet completely overwhelmed Trento from beyond the arc. The Bologna side knocked down an incredible 20 three-pointers from 39 attempts, shooting above 50% from distance and completely tearing apart Trento’s defense. Alongside their outstanding perimeter shooting, they also created a huge advantage on the offensive glass, grabbing as many as 16 offensive rebounds.

It is clear that Trento must respond much more seriously in Game 2, especially on the defensive end. Throughout the season they have shown significant inconsistency, but they have also proven capable of causing strong teams major problems with aggressive and physical defense. In the first game they simply failed to keep up with Virtus’ ball movement and perimeter spacing, so that area will need major improvement if they want to stay competitive in the series.

It is difficult to expect Virtus to repeat the kind of shooting performance they produced two days ago, especially considering they will now be without Derick Alston, who suffered an injury in the previous game. The American has been one of the team’s most consistent players over the last month and a half and an important offensive option, particularly because of his ability to stretch the floor and contribute scoring from the wing position. His absence will certainly affect the home team’s rotation and somewhat reduce their offensive firepower.

Virtus still possesses tremendous individual quality and enough experience to control the series, but I expect Trento to offer much stronger resistance tonight than they did in the opening game. The visitors should try to slow the tempo, introduce more contact and physicality, and prevent the home side from finding its recognizable offensive rhythm again. If they succeed in doing so, we could very easily see a much tougher and far more competitive game than the one played two days ago.