Holland (1.96 meters, 33 years old) signed with Turkish Airlines EuroLeague squad UNICS Kazan last month, but did not play a game with the team. Before that he played for Fajardo in Puerto Rico where he posted 12.8 points on 40.8% three-point shooting, along with 3.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.1 steals. Holland spent last season with UNICS, helping it reach the 7DAYS EuroCup Finals with 10.3 points on 43.4% three-point shooting, 2.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists. Holland also aided the team in advancing to the VTB League finals with 9.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.2 steals per game.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">Welcome 🤝 John Holland 🐊<br><br>Takımımız Porto Rikolu şutör John Holland ile anlaşmaya vardı.<br><br>NBA’de Cleveland Caveliers forması ile konferans şampiyonluğu bulunan 1.96 boyundaki oyuncumuz, son olarak Euroleague ekiplerinden Unics Kazan forması giydi. <a href="https://t.co/S01kXN0UfY">pic.twitter.com/S01kXN0UfY</a></p>&mdash; Frutti Extra Bursaspor (@BsBasketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/BsBasketbol/status/1501178677920518153?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Holland made his professional debut with Roanne in France. He also played with Cajasol Seville of Spain, Gravelines-Dunkerque of France, Besiktas Istanbul of Turkey, Hapoel Jerusalem of Israel, Santeros de Aquada of Puerto Rico, Austin and Canton in the D-League, as well as Cleveland of the NBA, playing in the 2018 NBA Finals. Holland has also been a member of the Puerto Rico national team. 

Frutti Extra Bursaspor signed veteran forward John Holland for the remainder of the season just before the EuroCup transfer deadline. 

Bursaspor signs veteran forward Holland 

Playmaker Alessandro Pajola scored 10 points last Thursday as Virtus Segafredo Bologna downed visiting 7DAYS Frutti Extra Bursaspor 98-94 in a rescheduled game from Round 10 EuroCup.

Alessandro Pajola, Virtus: 'I grew up with these colors'

Pajola, 22, joined Virtus in 2015 and has been the main witness on the club's path to rejoining the European elite. As the team's only player to start all 13 EuroCup games to date, he is averaging 6.2 points, 2.0 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.3 steals.  His heart, determination and strong defense is where everything starts for Virtus, a team that collects many steals (7.5 spg.) and gets easy shots in transition (22.7 apg.). Pajola helped Virtus win its first 19 games last season, but losing the last two in the semifinals against UNICS Kazan meant that the club did not reach the EuroCup Finals nor return to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. "Everybody saw those games, that series against Kazan. So I think that, for everybody, it's a big, big motivation," Pajola told [EuroCupBasketball.com](http://EuroCupBasketball.com). "We see this big disillusion in our hearts and our minds. We have to transform it into positive energy and to put that on the court, in every game and every practice, so we can arrive to the playoffs in the best way we can."

**Hello, Alessandro. Congratulations on beating Bursaspor in a hard-fought game. What won it down the stretch?** 

"I think that the EuroCup is a great championship, a great tournament in which every team is competitive, so I think there are no easy games. You have to be ready every time and especially when we when teams come to your home. We have to protect our home, but when other teams come, they have nothing to lose so they can play with a lot of freedom. So they come like this and play a great game. They stayed in the game all game long and also, in the third quarter, we went up 15-16 points, but they kept playing well. They are a good team and we knew that. In the end, it was good to keep the game in our hands, especially our veteran guys like Kyle Weems and Milos \[Teodosic\]. They drew some fouls and hit some big shots to win the game." 

**Kevin Hervey and Milos Teodosic came back from injuries in that game. How important are their returns?** 

"Of course, we missed them a lot, you know, especially their talent. They are our two main guys. They can create a bucket from nothing, so we missed them a lot. It's important for us to have them back to practice these two weeks. Some of us were out with our national teams, but they were here in the gym, practicing and getting in the best shape they could, so now they are ready. They are back and we can be great with them." 

"We want to step up and do a better job, to finally enjoy winning the EuroCup."

**Speaking of Milos, how great is it for a young player to work with him? Have you tried to emulate his passing skills?** 

"Of course, he still surprises me. Sometimes, he can invent something that you can never expect, so it's always a surprise. It's always something special to watch him play. And for sure, I feel very, very lucky. I think that for every young player, it can be really good, good, good to see unbelievable things, to play and practice every day with a player like this. I mean, you can learn a lot of things from him, and he is a really human guy who can help you. But at the same time, you can just watch him and learn from him. He's always able to help you and to teach you. So I feel really lucky. I have a great relationship with him, so I'm so lucky to have him." 

**In other news, Virtus signed Daniel Hackett. How important is that move to challenge for the EuroCup title?** 

"Of course, I am also lucky because he's one of the best point guards in Europe right now, so he is another player from whom I can learn a lot of things: his toughness, his way to lead the team. So for us, he can be a really, really great help in the EuroCup but also in the Italian League. He is Italian and can maybe help us win another Italian League title. So it is really good for us to have another good player, a good defensive guy on our roster. I used to enjoy seeing him play, and now he is coming to play with us, practice and start to get in our system, to get better." 

**You are one of the EuroCup’s best on-the-ball defenders and a steals specialist. What is the secret to getting so many steals?** 

"I mean, I think the main secret is trying to anticipate what the offense is going to do. Of course, on one-on-one, but especially when you are defending a guy far from the ball. You can anticipate the movement of the opponent, try to understand what he is going to do: if he is going to pass it, shoot it or dribble. So you can anticipate his move one second earlier so you can get the steal. I think that can be a really good, good thing. You know, if you steal every ball, you can take easy shots on the fastbreak every time, easy two-point layups. For me, it is something like that: I see defense before offense. I mean, a good offense can arrive after a good defense. So if you play a really good defense, solid defense, or if you force the opponent's offense to make a mistake or you steal the ball, you can go on a fastbreak every time and impose your pace on the game."

Alessandro Pajola Top Plays of the 2021-22 Regular Season

Alessandro Pajola Virtus Segafredo Bologna 2021-22 7DAYS EuroCup highlights

**This is your third EuroCup season. How do you like the competition and how has it helped you improve?** 

"For sure, it helped me a lot because I played against lot of great players. Every time I think on these three years, the EuroCup is a step up every year. This year, I saw a lot of really great teams, good players. As I told you before, every team is a good team; you cannot underestimate anyone. The standings are tough for us, because we should be one of the best teams, but we struggled a little bit, especially on the road, where we had many difficult moments. So it is a great competition. Of course, we are still sad from last year, when we lost in the semifinals. This year, for sure, we want to step up and do a better job, to finally enjoy winning the EuroCup." 

**Your next game is against Reyer, a team you know very well. How different are EuroCup games against Italian teams compared to domestic games?** 

"The team is the same team, but you know there is something different, for sure. First, you play in the middle of the week. These games are something different because you play with different basketballs and different referees. So there is something, of course, that changes between the EuroCup and the Italian League. Also, both teams know each other really well. We know how they play; their players know each other for a lot of years. They know how to use their defense. So like we did in the league and in our previous EuroCup game at home, we have to play hard, especially on defense, controlling the rebounds to go on some runs and find some easy shots, and that's it. I mean, they are a really good team, but if we play hard and impose our rhythm, our pace, we can get the win, which is really important for us." 

**Having joined Virtus as a teenager in 2015, you saw the team drop to the second division and return to in its first Italian League title in 20 years last season. How did that feel?** 

"It is something unbelievable. I mean, I still really cannot realize it. When I arrived, it was really, really different. I was a kid, but the club was not, for sure, as big as it is now. We were glad to bring Segafredo as our sponsor and then bring a lot of great players and great coaches. It really helped the club to step up, to be one of the best teams in Europe. Of course, when I arrived, a lot of things happened. I start with a big disappointment, a big sadness because we were relegated to the second division. But at the same time, the next year was a really great, great joy because we came back immediately to the first division and from then forward, we stepped up every single season. We reached the \[Italian\] Cup. We reached the \[Italian League\] title. We reached everything, so this me really proud because I grew up with this team. I grew up with these colors, with this shirt, so it makes me really proud to keep being someone important for the team and keep the winning mentality for this club."

"Experience is one of the most important things you need to have on your roster."

**Other than Virtus, which teams do you consider to be top candidates to win the EuroCup title?** 

"As I told you before, a lot of teams, but I could say Valencia Basket. Valencia is one of the most experienced teams. I think that, in my short experience, but in the three years that I played in the EuroCup, I think that experience is one of the most important things you need to have on your roster, maybe more than talent, because when such a tough moment comes, experienced players, experienced teams can make the difference. So, for sure, Valencia is one of the best teams. They beat us in our home and at their place. It is a team that has been really hard to beat. But at the same time, there are a lot of great teams. Of course, Partizan, Buducnost, Joventut... the level is really, really high and it is going to be complicated."

**Like you said, you were close to reaching the EuroCup Finals last season, one win away. Is that an extra motivation for the team?**

"Yes, of course. This is a really big motivation for us, but also for the guys that arrived this year. Everybody saw those games, that series against \[UNICS\] Kazan. So I think that, for everybody, is a big, big motivation. We see this big disillusion in our hearts and our minds, so we have to transform it into positive energy and to put that on the court, in every game and every practice, so we can arrive to the playoffs in the best way we can and do our best."

Alessandro Pajola - Virtus Segafredo Bologna (photo Matteo Marchi - Virtus) - EC21

The 7DAYS EuroCup returns after a four-week break and the action will be non-stop until a champion is crowned. There are five remaining regular season rounds to be played, followed by the knock-out rounds - make-or-break eighthfinals, quarterfinals, semifinals and of course, the championship game. Every game is important not just to qualify for the knock-out rounds, but to finish in the highest position possible for a better chance to have the home-court advantage in upcoming rounds. Joventut Badalona (11-2) has a two-win gap over everybody else and is more likely to play all its knock-out games at home than any other squad.

There have been some changes in the EuroCup Fantasy Challenge. As you probably know, Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar has been suspended until further notice, which means all of its players are out of the game and getting zero points. Players from teams going against Lokomotiv will get their average scores and in order to give every manager the same opportunities, unlimited trading is allowed before each round. It is a big change of strategy, giving managers endless possibilities from now until the end of the season.

Mathias Lessort, Jalen Jones, Philipp Herkenhoff, Joel Parra, Diego Flaccadori Top Plays of the 2021-22 Regular Season

EuroCup Fantasy Challenge recommendations Regular Season Round 14

As always, we have several recommendations before the Fantasy Challenge resumes. This time, we suggest a EuroCup champion looking to defend the crown, an athletic big man who has found his rhythm, a power forward seeing extended playing time, an up-and-coming forward ready to shine again and a young, yet experienced guard going against a team he has already played well against. Here they are:

**Mathias Lessort, Partizan NIS Belgrade (13.1 credits) -** Lessort is giving Partizan the boost it needed, offering his power, experience and effectiveness. It took him five games to become one of the team's leaders, averaging 16.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, 6.8 rebounds and a PIR of 25.0. Expect him to keep going; he had a PIR of 23 against Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade in Adriatic League action this weekend.

**Jalen Jones, Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse (9.3 credits) -** Jones may surprise a lot of people when the EuroCup returns. He has played five games until now and was relatively quiet, averaging 8.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and a PIR of 8.0. Jones comes off a really good game in French League action (19 points, 8 rebounds, 24 PIR) and is ready to follow up with a big performance against Valencia.

**Philipp Herkenhoff, ratiopharm Ulm (6.5 credits) -** Ulm has been without starting center Cristiano Felicio for several weeks. Herkenhoff is a 2.09-meter power forward, but has switched to center to step up for him. He comes off a really big game in the German League (11 points, 9 rebounds and a PIR of 14 in 32 minutes). Keep an eye on him if Felicio remains sidelined.

**Joel Parra, Joventut Badalona (8.3 credits) -** Parra is already one of the young stars of the competition and is available at a relatively young price. He is averaging 11.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and a PIR of 13.1. Parra is a mismatch at the small forward spot due to his size, quickness and tremendous energy. Joventut needs him against a physical opponent like Andorra.

**Diego Flaccadori, Dolomiti Energia Trento (7.9 credits) -** Flaccadori had a career-high 22 points in Trento's 81-77 home victory against Slask in Round 5 plus 6 rebounds and 4 assists for a PIR of 18. He is averaging 10.8 points, 2.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 12 games. It is a must-win game for both teams and Trento expects Flaccadori to make the difference with his leadership and versatility.

The 7DAYS EuroCup returns after a four-week break. Here are some players to consider for your fantasy teams. 

Fantasy tips: Here we go again!

Mathias Lessort - Partizan NIS Belgrade (photo Turk Telekom) - EC21

### MoraBanc Andorra head coach David Eudal:

"It is true that we currently have bigger needs in domestic competition than in the EuroCup, but we want to win all the matches and tomorrow's as well. Today Joventut is a better team than us, but among fellow teams of the same domestic league, anything can happen."

## MoraBanc Andorra player Drew Crawford:

"They beat us in the first game we played in the first round in Europe and tomorrow will be a good opportunity to beat them here. In the Spanish league here at home we played a very good game and we beat them and the idea is to do that again. The improvement of the team depends on our energy and toughness to be better in defense, from there we can improve and be more consistent." 

Pre-game quotes: Andorra vs. Joventut

MoraBanc Andorra v Joventut Badalona (2022-03-09T19:00:00.000Z)

David Eudal - MoraBanc Andorra (photo Trento) - EC21

### Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse player Axeul Julien:

"It's an important game to regain confidence after the break and after our defeat in the French league. Valencia is a big team, different from Gran Canaria but a great team too. We'll have to put all the right ingredients, as we ever done. We know that we still have to win games to hope to qualify for the rest of the competition. So tomorrow is an important game, against one of the favorites and the leader of the group."

Pre-game quotes: Bourg vs. Valencia

Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse v Valencia Basket (2022-03-08T19:00:00.000Z)

Axel Julien - Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse (photo Larry Langer - Ulm)

Virtus lands All-EuroLeague forward Shengelia 

Shengelia (2.06 meters, 30 years old)  arrives from CSKA Moscow, where he averaged 12.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 15 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague games this season. Shengelia started his career with Valencia Basket of Spain, where he lifted the 7DAYS EuroCup trophy in 2010, and also played for Spirou Charleroi and Verviers-Pepinster of Belgium, Brooklyn and Chicago of the NBA and Springfield of the G League before joining Bitci Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz in 2014. He helped Baskonia win the Spanish League title in 2020 and reach the EuroLeague Final Four in 2016, even when he was not able to play in either the Semifinals or the Third Place Game due to injury. Shengelia was chosen to the 2017-18 All-EuroLeague First Team and was named the EuroLeague MVP for March 2018. He has also claimed the VTB League crown with CSKA in 2021 and is also a regular member of the Georgian national team. Earlier this week, Virtus signed another former CSKA player, guard Daniel Hackett.

Virtus Segafredo Bologna bolstered its froncourt by inking power forward Toko Shengelia until the end of the current season, the club announced Monday.

Versatile big men Tomer Ginat of Boulogne Metropolitans 92 and Seth Hinrichs of Hamburg Towers could quietly play major roles in their teams’ showdown this week.

Major matchup: Ginat, Metropolitans vs. Hinrichs, Hamburg

Ginat has averaged 9.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists this season and has gotten stronger as the season has progressed. He has scored in double figures in five straight games and averaged a PIR of 16.8 over that stretch. He posted 6 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks to help Metropolitans defeat Hamburg 84-94 when they met in November.

Hinrichs, who like Ginat is in his second EuroCup campaign, has been worth 6.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 steals for Hamburg. He contributed 6 points, 5 boards and 2 assists against Metropolitans. Hamburg has won the last three times Hinrichs has scored in double figures and may look to get him more involved in the offense against Metropolitans. How he fares against the bigger Ginat could have a say in this game’s outcome. 

Boulogne Metropolitans 92 v Hamburg Towers (2022-03-09T19:30:00.000Z)

Arteaga may be a EuroCup newcomer, but he has faced Tomic countless times over the last decade in the Spanish League and will be well prepared for their showdown in the paint. The Andorra center has averaged 6.6 points and 3.1 rebounds in 13 games as a part-time starter this season and a strong game from him on the paint, at either end, could provide a big boost for the hosts.

Tomic is Joventut’s marquee player with 10.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. His combination of experience, passing skills and scoring ability tortures many opponents. He scored 18 with 7 assists in a dominant performance when these teams last met in the EuroCup, but was held to 5 points on 1-of-5 two-point shooting and 2 assists in their most recent Spanish league game. Tomic’s play will have a major impact on this game.

The matchup between veteran centers Victor Arteaga of MoraBanc Andorra and Ante Tomic of Joventut Badalona figures to carry a lot of weight on Wednesday.

Major matchup: Arteaga, Andorra vs. Tomic, Joventut

The matchup on the wings between Gran Canaria and Frutti Extra Bursaspor’s respective leading scorers, Dylan Ennis and Derek Needham, should be exciting.

Major matchup: Ennis, Gran Canaria vs. Needham, Bursaspor

Ennis has averaged 14.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.3 steals as an all-around standout for Gran Canaria. He also has some insights into Turkish basketball since his brother, Tyler, has played for three different Turkish clubs in recent years. Ennis drew a season-high 8 fouls and shot 7 for 8 from the foul line en route to 15 points when these teams last met. His physical playing style and aggressive defense will be important against Needham.

The Bursaspor playmaker has taken on an even bigger role in recent weeks, though he now shares point guard duties with Andrew Andrews and thus serves as a go-to scorer and a creator at the same time. Needham recorded 8 rebounds and 5 assists when he faced Gran Canaria in Round 5, but only scored 6 points and committed 3 turnovers in a loss at home. Needham knows he must be at his best to win this game at Gran Canaria. 

Gran Canaria v Frutti Extra Bursaspor (2022-03-09T20:00:00.000Z)

Derek Needham - Frutti Extra Bursaspor (photo Bursaspor) - EC21-RS13