By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
In the annual press conference promoting the season tickets, Virtus Segafredo Bologna CEO Luca Baraldi discussed the team’s relationship with Tornike Shengelia, among the remaining topics. He was more than open to the player receiving treatment in Bologna.
“We have been working for weeks,” said Baraldi referring to talks on a new contract to keep Shengelia on board heading to the 2022-23 edition of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and domestic competitions in Italy, “I am confident he will decide to stay here, but we haven’t signed anything. It depends only on him. He has a family. He is a Georgian based in Spain but loves Bologna and values the club.”
Shengelia, 30, was hurt during the 2023 FIBA World Cup European Qualifiers Group L opener between Georgia and the Netherlands. The team coached by Ilias Zouros snatched the win and made a leap toward clinching a berth in next summer’s World Cup by improving to 3-2. However, losing the national team captain to a gruesome shoulder injury overshadowed the key victory and Wednesday’s international action in general.
The experienced power forward will miss the remainder of Georgia’s fixtures at the bottom end of the offseason, including the 2022 EuroBasket and the opportunity to represent his country in a major international tournament playing in the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi. With a possible surgery looming, he is expected to stay out of action for two to three months, therefore miss the early chunk of the 2022-23 season at the club level.
“I believe he will arrive in Italy shortly and that he will choose to be treated here, working with our medical staff,” added Baraldi.
Shengelia joined Virtus Bologna last March, following the conclusion of his stint at CSKA in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing war. Tallying 8.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.0 blocks, and 0.8 steals per contest over eight appearances helped his side win the 7DAYS EuroCup and complete the long path back to EuroLeague, ending the wait of 15 years. He also averaged 12.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game in Italy’s LBA Serie A.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net