By Cesare Milanti / info@eurohoops.net
BOLOGNA, Italy – Virtus Bologna put up one of the bravest performances of their 2024-25 EuroLeague campaign against Panathinaikos, losing only in the decisive moments of the encounter, lately when time turned clutch.
In the post-game press conference, head coach Luca Banchi was asked about the refereeing performance tonight, but he immediately avoided answering the question. “I can’t go through details, because I already paid enough”, he commented, making a reference to his sanction after the game versus Zalgiris.
“Eventually, I can give you my IBAN. I hope at least they used it for charity, maybe to the victims of Valencia‘s floods. Or that it didn’t make anybody else richer. I can’t speak”, Virtus Bologna’s coach joked.
Previously, he gave his thoughts about the encounter. “It was a very intense game in front of a force, one of the best teams in this EuroLeague which tonight spent all of their best resources to win this game. We regret this because, for a long time, we had the feeling and sensation of winning. When you arrive at the clutch, every small detail can make the difference”, Luca Banchi said.
While Virtus stays at the bottom of the standings, he’s proud of his team’s growth. “Honestly, I remember the excitement generated by our successes one year ago. I attempted to try and keep everyone at a level of balance because I knew things could have changed”, he added.
“This is the EuroLeague. You play every night with the best players and clubs. We are close to expressing a quality that will allow us to compete against anyone,” Banchi said.
He was also asked about Will Clyburn’s leadership within the team. “He has his own personality. I think we need to get to know him more, and vice versa. He brings a lot of experience. We need to canalize it, trying to be a team as more homogeneous as possible”, the Italian head coach concluded.
PHOTO CREDIT: Virtus Segafredo Bologna