Bologna Wins 2019 Basketball Champions League Title

Segafredo Virtus Bologna have been crowned victors of the 2019 FIBA Basketball Champions League after defeating Iberostar Tenerife 73-61 in the finals. This was a huge win for Bologna, being their first European title in over a decade.

The well-deserved victory came thanks to the monster game put up by Kevin Punter who dropped a game-high 26 points on a perfect 5-for-5 shooting from beyond the 3-point arc. He also added seven rebounds and a sweet 9-of-9 shooting from the free throw line. Punter becomes the first ever player to win back-to-back Champions League titles, having claimed it last year with AEK Athens. Needless to say, Punter’s impressive performance in this game earned him the MVP nod. Amath MBaye added 16 points and three rebounds.

Tenerife dipped far too often in the dry well of their dismal 3-point shooting, going 5-for-37 from distance. Bologna picked their spots and had a better economy of makes to attempts with their 7-for-16 night.

Tim Abromaitis led Tenerife with 18 points and eight rebounds, while Colton Iverson chipped in with 11 points and nine boards.

Bologna heads back home from Antwerp with some fresh hardware to spruce up their trophy case. Tenerife travel back to Spain where they lick their wounds and set their sights on the domestic Liga ACB crown, where they are currently in seventh place in the standings wih a 16-14 record.