Virtus (16-10) needs to arrest a slump as it hosts determined defensive expert Valencia (13-13).
Luca Banchi, Virtus: 'It will be our task to find pace'
Seasons
3 Χρόνος Ανάγνωσης
Regular Season
Round 27 of 34
Regular Season
Virtus Segafredo BolognaVIR
8774
Valencia BasketVBC
Overview
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The Spanish team has allowed just 76.0 points per game, second best in the league, and will look to pounce upon any lack in confidence among a Virtus team that has lost three of the last four. Valencia did exactly that when the teams met in December, grinding out a 79-71 victory paced by 17 points from backcourt orchestrator Chris Jones, with the Italian team held to just 25 field goal conversions. Five of those came from key man Toko Shengelia, who will look to return from the break refreshed after averaging just 8 points and 3.8 rebounds - low tallies by his standards - in the last four games.
Luca Banchi, Virtus head coach
"Valencia is a very physical team, capable of producing numbers that today make it the second best defense in the EuroLeague for points conceded to opponents. So we will have an intense game ahead of us, characterized by the 'unknown' related to the need to gather the team only one day before such an important match. It will be our task to find pace, confidence and intensity, against an opponent that has very athletic and versatile quintets, characteristics of a team so far able to guarantee a very continuous performance."
Alex Mumbru, Valencia head coach
"It will be a complicated game from a mental point of view. We have not practiced all together yet, we just got back the players coming from the windows. Virtus also. We will have to go directly to Bologna, so this game will be a bit of a suprrise to see where we stand and see if we can get back on track as soon as possible. Virtus just lost the first game at home, and they did not lose again until Monaco, even if they had the winning shot in their hands. They play good basketball at home on both ends."
Ante Zizic, Virtus player
"Big game tomorrow, we have a big advantage because we’ll play in our gym despite we didn’t have time to practice a lot. We did just one practice all together but we have to follow our game plan, to play very hard from the start and be focus. Valencia is a good team, they play a good basketball in this season: we have to stop their transition and we have to avoid their easy points."
Semi Ojeleye, Virtus player
"It will be a tough game, for sure. They are playing really well. Virtus has quality players and they have a great atmosphere. These days of practice will be important to get ready for this game."