By Cesare Milanti/ info@eurohoops.net
In the first-ever Turkish Airlines EuroLeague game between Virtus Bologna and Valencia, the black-and-white Italian team found the 89-59 victory over the Spaniards.
The Virtus Bologna newcomers Jordan Mickey and Semi Ojeleye were the best ones on Sergio Scariolo’s team, ending the game respectively with 16 and 14 points. Iffe Lundberg added 14.
Milos Teodosic (5 r., 6 a.) and Isaia Cordiner (15 p.) made the fans in the PalaDozza arena enjoy several alley-oop actions, while Alessandro Pajola (6 p., 4 r., 2 s.) had a great defensive night, as usual.
“We had a good game, finally throughout the whole length of the bench on both ends of the floor. We kept pushing and we didn’t lift the foot. Everybody had the right mindset and focus, with the desire to play defense and share the ball. The more we’ll get to know each other, the more our shots will be good shots. We had some slumps under our defensive board, but we had a pretty good game. Let’s keep it up”, Sergio Scariolo said in the post-game press conference.
Co-Round 7 MVP Chris Jones was the highest scorer for Valencia. The former Maccabi Tel Aviv and ASVEL playmaker had 10 points in his team’s loss, being the only one in double digits.
“We started the game bad, really bad. In the first ten minutes, Virtus gave a lot and they scored easily, getting confidence. It was difficult to come back for us. When you’re not ready and when you’re not focused, you miss some open shots. We arrived ten minutes late for the game”, Alex Mumbru said in the post-game press conference.
Since the beginning of the game, Virtus Bologna imposed its rhythm on both ends of the floor, putting on an offensive show and closing the first half up by 17 points.
Valencia couldn’t convert from downtown and ended the game shooting 6/36 from three. On defense, Alex Mumbru’s team decided to double or triple-teaming the opponents under the basket on several occasions, giving Virtus an advantage from deep (14/28).
Sergio Scariolo, who won EuroBasket 2022 with Valencia’s own Jaime Pradilla and Xabi Lopez-Arostegui, didn’t have Tornike Shengelia, who missed the game due to an ankle problem.
Awudu Abass is recovering from a knee injury and he’s not expected to play anytime soon, just like Martin Hermannsson, who suffered the same injury and underwent surgery. Bojan Dubljevic missed the game due to gastroenteritis.
With the second EuroLeague victory in a row, Virtus Bologna found itself at a 4-4 record. Valencia suffered its fourth loss of the season and has now been reached by the Italian team in the standings.
The two sides never met in the EuroLeague previously, but played in last year’s 7DAYS EuroCup, with Virtus winning 83-73 on the road.
PHOTO CREDIT: Virtus Segafredo Bologna