Italian Cup – Virtus Bologna advances to semifinals after dramatic comeback against Napoli

Virtus Bologna delivered one of the most impressive comebacks of the Italian Cup quarterfinals, overturning a 17-point halftime deficit to defeat Napoli Basket 83-73 and secure their place in the semifinals. Coach Ivanovic’s team showed tremendous character after a disappointing first-half performance.

The Euroleague side found themselves in serious trouble at the break, trailing 18-35 against a Napoli team that dominated the opening 20 minutes. Napoli Basket showcased their best basketball against the higher-level opposition, controlling the tempo and executing their game plan to perfection in the first half.

Third quarter surge changes everything

The transformation came in the third quarter, where Virtus increased the pace dramatically and outscored their opponents 30-19 to get back into contention. This crucial period laid the foundation for what would become a complete turnaround, as Ivanovic’s adjustments began to take effect.

Carsen Edwards emerged as the hero of the comeback, finishing with a game-high 24 points and taking control when his team needed him most. Derrick Alston provided excellent support with 16 points, and both players were instrumental in dominating the fourth quarter to seal the victory for Virtus.

𝗔𝗩𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗜 𝗡𝗢𝗜 🤍🖤

Semifinale 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘢, appuntamento a sabato ⏩ pic.twitter.com/mUOlVbpuXg

— Virtus Bologna (@VirtusBo) February 19, 2026

Derthona completes semifinal lineup

In another quarterfinal upset, Derthona Basket eliminated Eurocup participants Reyer Venezia with a 95-87 victory on the road. The Tortona-based team delivered an outstanding performance to overcome the higher-level opposition and earn their semifinal spot.

Hubb contributed 17 points while Baldasso added 18 points to lead Derthona’s balanced offensive attack. For Venezia, only Cole managed to find his rhythm offensively, scoring 26 points in what proved to be a losing effort for the home team.

The complete quarterfinal results were: Brescia defeated Udinese 78-64, Olimpia Milano overcame Pallacanestro Trieste 94-86, Derthona Basket upset Reyer Venezia 95-87, and Virtus Bologna completed their comeback against Napoli Basket 83-73.

Back-to-Brekkott from deep ✌🏽🫨

Le triple di Chapman nella rimonta bianconera del secondo quarto 😤 pic.twitter.com/tPeP0a7e4D

— Derthona Basket (@DerthonaBasket) February 19, 2026

The semifinals are scheduled for February 21st, featuring Brescia against Olimpia Milano and Derthona Basket facing Virtus Bologna in what promises to be two compelling matchups between Italy’s top basketball programs.