By Cesare Milanti / info@eurohoops.net
BOLOGNA, Italy – Despite arriving in Bologna only on the latest days of 2023, both Rihards Lomazs and Ante Ziziz are already training with Virtus ahead of their potential EuroLeague debut against Bayern Munich.
Speaking for the first time in front of the media, the Latvian guard expressed satisfaction about this new chapter. “This represents a new and great opportunity for me. I already played in the EuroLeague a few years ago, now I am coming back to this competition to try to do my best. My main task is to learn from my teammates and give them what they need, I follow Luca [Banchi] all the time. It’s nice to be here, it’s nothing new, and it feels nice to again be together with him”, he first said.
Touching on his shape, he’s very optimistic things will be great. “From the physical point of view, I feel very good, I’m not worried about playing two close games, because we are a team of 15 players and it can happen to play 5′, 10′, 20′ per game. It’s a different situation from Turkey where I had 30-35′ per game, but I’m fine, I just have to prepare my physique for this type of season”, he commented.
Averaging, and when Virtus Bologna called him, he didn’t have any kind of hesitation. “I am in contact with other Latvian players [Arturs Strautins, Andrejs Grazulis, Janis Strelnieks] playing in Italy, but when Virtus Segafredo called me I said yes right away, I didn’t need to ask anything, I just said yes”, he commented also about his three countrymen who are currently playing in the Italian league.
Averaging 14.7 points per game with Merkezefendi in the Turkish basketball league, he will now have a second EuroLeague opportunity after playing for ASVEL in the past. He was also huge in bringing Latvia to the 2023 FIBA World Cup but couldn’t make it to the competition after suffering an injury.
Rihards Lomazs (@RihardsLomazs) on reaching Luca Banchi in Virtus Bologna: “I follow him all the time. […] It’s nice to be together again”.
He contributed in bringing 🇱🇻 to the 2023 FIBA World Cup, but couldn’t make it there. Now, he’s back with his national team head coach. pic.twitter.com/cDXfzTcCX4
— Cesare Milanti (@cesaremilanti) January 2, 2024
PHOTO CREDIT: Virtus Segafredo Bologna