By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
On October 9, Virtus Segafredo Bologna announced that Achille Polonara would undergo surgery for the removal of a detected testicular neoplasm. Almost two months later, the Italian national team player is back.
After undergoing surgery and chemotherapy, the 32-year-old forward stepped back onto the court in a win over Tortona, playing for eight minutes and scoring five points.
Achille’s return and triumph over the disease were the central points of the new episode of the VIRTUS UNCOVERED series, with the Italian player opening up about what he went through and emphasizing that he’s ready for action once again.
“It’s been a very difficult time, but I’m happy to be back with the guys, and I’m very happy because after almost two months from surgery, I feel good and I’m ready to be back on the court,” Polonara said.
During his recovery, he received a lot of support, tried to stay behind his teammates, and gave his best to get back in shape as soon as possible.
“It’s never easy, even if you are out just for one game, to be watching your teammates. It’s always been like this for me; I’ve always been in touch with the team. I was always training before or after them, so I also attended team meetings, watched a lot of team practices, and kept in touch with the guys.”
Coach Luca Banchi gave him credit for the way he handled his situation and noted that everyone will try to help him get back in recognizable shape.
“A thought goes to Achille and his comeback. We support this guy who went through some really stressful times, that he faced with maturity, very seriously. We keep going this way, trying to bring him back as soon as possible in a condition that allows him to take his role back in a team, where he played with big expectations from both sides,” Banchi said.
With Polonara out for almost two months, Virtus Bologna found a way to secure seven out of a possible 11 victories in the EuroLeague and earned the top spot in the Legabasket standings with an 8-2 score.
Photo: Virtus Segafredo Bologna