By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Virtus Bologna has been active in the market in recent days and the end result was two new additions from CSKA Moscow. They already brought in Daniel Hackett and as they officially announced they signed Tornike Shengelia as well with a deal until the end of the season.
CSKA also officially announced that the Georgian forward is releashed. According to Eurohoops sources CSKA will receive a hefty buyout, while Shengelia had a contract until 2023 with the Russian club. Shengelia made the move in time just ahead of tomorrow’s EuroCup transfers deadline.
“When inviting Toko to the team, we counted on his fighting spirit, charisma, leadership qualities on and off the court. And it fully met our expectations. I want to remind you that Tornike’s move to CSKA was criticized a lot, and Toko withstood this pressure with honor. Shengelia is an example for the younger generation to follow in terms of professionalism, attitude towards family, partners and rivals, and their country,” CSKA president Andrey Vatutin said.
Shengelia thanked everybody at CSKA, from teammates and the coach to the management.
“I want to thank the CSKA organization for their work and attitude towards me, and also express my gratitude to Andrey Vatutin and Natalia Furaeva. Also, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dimitris Itoudis, the coaching staff and everyone at the club,” he said and added.
“As for my teammates during these one and a half seasons, I am proud to be with them in the dressing rooms and on the courts. It’s a pity that the reason for my departure is not related to basketball, but in life you have to make a choice, and I made it. Now I will focus on what awaits me in the future. Thank you all.”
Shengelia will join an Italian team for the first time in his career while he’s returning to the 7DAYS EuroCup for the first time since 2010 when he won the competition with Valencia.
He played Euroleague ever since, wearing the jerseys of Charleroi, Baskonia, and CSKA. He also had a two-year NBA stint in the meantime, playing for the Brooklyn Nets and the Chicago Bulls.
This season, Shengelia played 15 Euroleague games with CSKA, averaging 12.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.5 assists.
Virtus is currently fifth in EuroCup’s Group B with a 7-6 record while they are second in Italy with 16-3.