##### [Virtus Segafredo Bologna vs. Frutti Extra Bursaspor](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2021-22/virtus-segafredo-bologna-frutti-extra-bursaspor/U2021/99/)

Two teams hungry for wins will meet in Basket City when Virtus (6-6) hosts Bursaspor (4-7). Virtus has dropped three in a row to tumble down to fifth place in Group B and must get back on track if it plans to finish near the group leader. Bursaspor, which has lost three in a row before winning is last game, is ninth in the table, though a victory would propel it into the top eight. Virtus overpowered Bursaspor 83-101 when they met on opening night in October. 

Virtus Segafredo Bologna and Frutti Extra Bursaspor square off tonight in a makeup game from Round 10. 

Game Night: Virtus meets Bursaspor in Round 10 makeup game

Mam Jaiteh - Virtus Segafredo Bologna (photo Matteo Marchi - Virtus) - EC21

### Three-pointers are key to the Virtus attack

Virtus has tumbled down the Group B standings to fifth place with three consecutive losses and will try to start its climb up the ladder this week. Ranked fifth in the competition in scoring with 85.1 points per game, Virtus’s scoring touch has slipped recently. It has averaged just 69.0 points during its current losing streak and has made just 20 of 80 three-pointers (25%) in those games. The last of those was February 9 and Coach Scariolo should have his team ready to get back to EuroCup action and eager to turn things around against Bursaspor.

Keys to victory: Virtus vs. Bursaspor

Virtus Segafredo Bologna v Frutti Extra Bursaspor (2022-03-03T19:30:00.000Z)

Mannion has yet to meet the lofty expectations many had from him this season in large part due to a virus that sidelined him in the fall and delayed his start to the campaign. He is now back at near full strength and comes off two strong games with the Italian national team. The combo-guard can slot alongside the rest of the talents in the Virtus backcourt and lead the way whether as a shooter, slasher or playmaker. A strong game from Mannion could be just what Virtus needs to get back on track.

Needham leads the EuroCup in steals (2.0 spg.) and is eighth in assists (5.4 apg.). He is also Bursaspor’s top scorer (12.2 ppg.) due to the departure of Allerik Freeman. Needham will be asked to carry more weight and he has been in fine form, averaging 19.3 points on 16-for-30 three-point shooting (53.3%) over his past four games. Needham will likely play a lot of minutes and a strong performance is essential for Bursaspor. 

Guards Nico Mannion of Virtus Segafredo Bologna and Derek Needham of Frutti Extra Bursaspor figure to have big roles for their teams down the stretch run and that starts when they square off on Thursday. 

Major matchup: Manion, Virtus vs. Needham, Bursaspor

Niccolo Mannion - Virtus Segafredo Bologna (photo Matteo Marchi - Virtus) - EC21

There are special coach-player relationships that have formed over the years. And then there is the connection between Laurent Legname and Axel Jullien. 

Legname-Julien bond is long in the making

The Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse head coach and point guard have a bond that many married couples would probably envy.

Legname and Julien are trying to lead Bourg to victories this season thanks to a link that dates back more than a decade. In 2011, Legname was 34 years old and playing his last season as a professional with Hyeres-Toulon, where a then 19-year-old Julien was getting his first taste of the Hyeres-Toulon pro team.

“He was younger than he is now,” Legname said with a laugh thinking back to his one season with Julien as a teammate. “He was more shy than he is now, and you could already tell he had the potential and talent for a professional career.”

A native of Hyeres, Legname played nearly his entire 17-year career with Hyeres-Toulon - save for one season with Maritime Boulogne. He retired during the 2011-12 season and took over as coach in the Toulon youth ranks and coached Julien for the first time after the youngster had been with the club since 2009.

"We didn't need to talk much before he accepted the challenge”

It was the next step of a long journey that took the coach-playmaker duo around the country - and crisscrossing Europe as well.

Legname would remain at Hyeres-Toulon and advance to the pro team head coach in 2013-14 with the team in the second division. Julien was starting to make a name for himself too - having already helped France take the silver medal at the FIBA U20 European Championship 2012 - with Legname as an assistant coach.

In 2015, Legname was hired at first division club JDA Dijon and he decided it was time for Julien to play at the highest level in France for the first time and he took his point guard with him.

“We had just had two big seasons in Pro B, both collectively and individually. Axel had proven his worth at that level, and he had to see the upper level,” Legname remembered. “Dijon was looking for a new beginning so it was quite natural that I offered him this challenge to try to measure himself at a higher level. We didn't need to talk much before he accepted the challenge.”

Legname and Julien helped build Dijon into a force in France - and Europe. Dijon made the playoffs for the first time in 2017-18 and lost in the first round. The next season they finished third in the league and reached the semifinals of the playoffs. Dijon also debuted that season in the Basketball Champions League.

In 2019-20, Dijon were only a half-game behind AS Monaco in second place in the French League standings when COVID-19 ended the season prematurely. Internationally, Dijon would end up finishing third in the BCL after reaching the Final 8 tournament.

The success continued last season as Dijon won the French regular-season title and knocked off Monaco in the semifinals before losing to LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne in the final.

After five seasons with Dijon, it was time for a move for Legname, who signed with Bourg this past off-season. He told Julien about the deal before it was announced and also asked if the guard wanted to continue their journey together in eastern France.

“I really thought about everything. I had a lot of opportunities to go to other teams, but after weighing everything I decided to go play for him in Bourg,” Julien said.

The connection between the two is definitely a major help for Bourg players.

“For me, it’s better to help other teammates to help them understand what he is asking. Sometimes it’s hard for a new player to understand everything, so I will try to act between him and the players,” Julien said.

Legname values what he has in his bond with his floor general: “It's a relationship that doesn't take place too often in the professional world, but it's a relationship that brings positivity in every sense of the word,” the coach said.

Now, Legname and Julien are trying to take Bourg to the next level - with a connection almost unheard of in basketball.

Here is where you can watch the Round 10 game between Virtus Segafredo Bologna and Frutti Extra Bursaspor.

TV Info, Virtus vs. Bursaspor

Baltics: SPORTKLUB HD

Georgia: SILK SPORT 2

In-Flight Vision: IMG ARENA

Internet: [EUROLEAGUE.TV](http://EUROLEAGUE.TV)

Italy: SKY SPORT and ELEVEN SPORTS

Russian Federation: OKKO SPORT

Slovenia: SPORT TV

Spain: DAZN

Turkey: S SPORT2 & S SPORT PLUS

"Obradovic, The Return" is the latest documentary production from Euroleague Basketball Originals, though it could just as easily be called "Obradovic and Partizan, Love Story". 

Euroleague Basketball documentary: "Obradovic, The Return"

The 28-minute feature dives deep into the career of the EuroLeague's winningest coach and explores his special relationship with Partizan NIS Belgrade, where he finished his career as a player, started coaching, and won the first of his record nine EuroLeague crowns. By the end, the news that caught Europe by storm last summer, that Obradovic was coming home to coach Partizan in the 7DAYS EuroCup, is not just easily understood, but appears to be the next logical step in his storybook career.

Viewers will hear from players Obradovic has coached currently and in the past, from members of Partizan's front office and coaching staff, from the Serbian media, and others to understand how revered Obradovic is in the basketball world as a whole and in his native Serbia in particular. And, of course, the legend himself, who explains how he became Partizan's head coach at age 31.

"I was in preparation time with the Yugoslavia national team. I was the captain of the team that would play the European Championship in Rome, with a lot of possibilities to win the championship and take the gold medal. From the club, they found me, called me and offered me to be a coach," Obradovic said. "I decided that night, and I went to the airport to talk to the national team coach, Mr. Ivkovic. Everybody believed that I was crazy. I remember how my teammates joked."

In short time nobody was laughing and after three decades and a list of accolades too long to list, Obradovic is back home with Partizan looking to revive his beloved club after a rough period and carry it back to its former home as one of the kingpins of European basketball.

"If you sign Zeljko Obradovic, you cannot say you will build the team for the next five years, and after three seasons, you will start winning something," Partizan general manager and a former Obradovic teammate, Zoran Savic, said. "He came here to win immediately and from the very first minute, when he signed, he gave the message to everybody."

Filmmakers followed Obradovic through the preseason and the first EuroCup game of the season to see him working with his players and understand the relationship between the coach and the Partizan faithful.

"We are very proud of the fans that we have," Coach Obradovic said. "I try to explain people that to understand Partizan, you need to come to a game... All these years, I was in connection with the people from Partizan. It is my club, without any question."

"Obradovic, The Return" joins a long list of premium, long-form content from the Euroleague Basketball Originals platform. Among the other features can be found ["You Make Me Proud: A champions's road to glory"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyD0C66jt2E), ["Milan's ‘The New Old Boys"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2ySNsoDSGw), and ["Calling the Shots: The Anne Panther Story"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmiFlkJBTtQ).

Valencia Basket on Monday announced that veteran point guard Sam Van Rossom would miss several weeks of action due to a leg injury.

Valencia's Van Rossom sidelined with leg injury

He suffered a muscle tear in his left hamstring while playing for the Belgian national team. Van Rossom, 35, is a former two-time 7DAYS EuroCup champion, having won the title with Valencia in 2014 and 2019. This season, he has appeared in 11 of the team's 13 EuroCup games so far, averaging 9.3 points and 4.2 assists. All told, Van Rossom has played in 110 EuroCup games over eight seasons, two with Oostende in his native Belgium and five with Valencia. The club said that Van Rossom will undergo therapy and be reevaluated in several weeks.

The rise of Pedro Calles of Hamburg Towers, one of the youngest coaches in the 7DAYS EuroCup this season, is an inspiring tale. 

Coach Pedro Calles, Hamburg: ‘We are ambitious but humble’

Like all the players on the Hamburg squad spare Seth Hinrichs, Coach Calles, 38, is a EuroCup newcomer. Nevertheless, the team is in a good position to make it to the knock-out rounds. Their coach has many shares in the team’s success after accepting the challenge to come to Germany for a small role and slowly but steadily growing in stature to become one of the most interesting coaches in European basketball. 

Born in Cordoba, Spain, Calles played in the Spanish third division and started his coaching career in his hometown as an assistant at Salsas Musas Cordoba. He then spent time as an assistant coach with Plasencia in the Spanish third division while getting a degree in Physical Education and Sports Science in Granada. That led to an offer to join Artland Dragons in 2012 under Coach Stefan Koch's supervision as an athletic trainer who would also help players to develop with individual workouts.

"A friend of mine, who I met while studying in Helsinki, Finland in 2005, ended up working for Artland and he got me in touch with the team's head coach, Stefan Koch. After a couple of interviews, they gave me the chance to join the team," Calles said. "The closest airport was Bremen, 45 minutes away, but it didn't have many international flights. We did most of the EuroCup trips from Hamburg and Dusseldorf, which were more than two hours away by bus." 

Back then, Artland had three very experienced guards in MarQuez Haynes, Kristaps Valters and Demond Mallet. A year later, he was one of the team's assistant coaches, along with future EuroLeague coach Martin Schiller, working for Tyron McCoy. It was in Quakenbreuck that Calles had his first EuroCup experience as Artland played the competition in all of his three seasons with the club.

Artland decided to stop its top-level basketball activities in 2015 and Calles moved on to Rasta Vechta. He got the opportunity there through Bryce Taylor, who had played for Artland the previous season and recommended him to his new club. 

"Bryce is a great person and a very professional player. When Artland announced that it wouldn't compete in the German League, he was playing for Bayern Munich. His assistant coach was Andreas Wagner, who had committed to coach Rasta Vechta the following season. Back then, he was looking for an assistant coach and Andrea Wagner called me," Calles said. "He told me that Bryce Taylor had talked to him about me and offered me the chance to join his coaching staff. That's how I got the chance to go there. I don't know what Bruce told Andreas, but he definitely helped me join Vechta."

“I reached a certain point in which I wanted new challenges in my career and that's what I came to look for in Hamburg."

Working for Wagner, Calles helped Vechta gain promotion to the German elite only to return to the German second division at the end of the 2016-17 campaign. Vechta, now coached by Douglas Spradley, bounced back the next season, to the German top-flight again. In the summer of 2018, Calles was offered the head coaching position and took the challenge.

Calles had his team play modern, aggressive, attractive basketball, using physical lineups to put pressure on defense, looking for steals and fastbreak opportunities. He also has a good eye to sign relatively unknown players and give them the chance to play very well. Vechta signed TJ Bray and Austin Hollins before the start of the 2018-19 season and once Calles had a competitive backcourt, he led Vechta to unthinkable heights. 

Vechta surprised everyone by finishing the German League regular season with a 24-10 record, beating both ALBA Berlin and FC Bayern Munich at home. Vechta eliminated Brose Bamberg in the playoffs before losing against Bayern in the semifinals. Calles was chosen as the 2018-19 German League Coach of the Year at the age of 35, taking that title over his coaching hero, Aito Garcia Reneses. 

"I have been a big fan of Aito and a big follower of the basketball his teams play for many years," Calles said. "I met him for dinner and basketball was not the main topic. We talked about geography a lot, and Aito is a person that is always asking, trying to know more things." 

Calles coached Vechta for another season and had a 12-9 record in the 2019-20 German League when the competition was stopped because of COVID-19. Bray and Hollins had left to Turkish Airlines EuroLeague teams, but Vechta landed Trevis Simpson and Steve Vasturia. Once the competition resumed, Vechta failed to make it to the playoffs. 

Looking for new challenges, Calles joined Hamburg with the ambition of bringing continental basketball back to the city. Hamburg had finished last in the 2019-20 German League with a 3-17 record, but avoided relegation due to the COVID-19 situation. Calles liked Hamburg's humble but ambitious approach and took its offer. Reuniting with Taylor, the player who persuaded Vechta to give him an opportunity, had a part in his decision to join the Towers. 

"I was in Vechta for five years, which were fantastic, two of them as head coach. We achieved goals which we had not planned but I reached a certain point in which I wanted new challenges in my career, and that's what I came to look for in Hamburg," Called said. "What they want and how they want to get it matched what I was looking for. Hamburg is a club that is growing and wants to establish itself in the German League. They are ambitious but humble." 

Calles signed Maik Kostar, who is still with the team, and Kameron Taylor, who went on to join Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv, and with them, Hamburg took a giant step in the standings. After finishing at the bottom of the table in the 2019-20 campaign, Calles took Hamburg to the German League playoffs last season. They beat ALBA twice and Bayern at home on the way to a 21-13 record. ALBA swept Hamburg in the German League quarterfinals. After the season concluded, Calles's team was offered an invitation to play in the EuroCup as the only squad debuting in the competition this season.

Like at every previous step in his career, Calles was far from intimidated by the challenge. Instead, he continues to grow as a coach and land interesting players, like Caleb Homesley and Jaylon Brown. Despite a 1-5 start in Group A, Hamburg went on to beat Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar, Dolomiti Energia Trento, Turk Telekom Ankara and MoraBanc Andorra and is now eighth with a 5-7 record - three wins in front of ninth place. Hamburg ranks third in scoring (85.8 ppg.), second in steals (9.1 spg.) and is the runaway leader in three-point shots with 31.2 per night. 

Those numbers reflect Calles's trademark – a high rhythm, loads of pressure on the ball and fun-to-watch basketball. Calles and Hamburg are eager to ride that formula into the knockout stages where they hope to surprise some big teams and make even more noise in the EuroCup.

It is the ultimate individual award in the 7DAYS EuroCup: the MVP acknowledges the best player in the competition throughout the entire season. 

Midseason awards candidates: MVP 

With so many great players in the competition, the list of past MVPs is full of stars. Former EuroCup MVPs include the likes of Chuck Eidson, Patrick Beverley, Nick Calathes, Tyrese Rice and its last four winners - Jamar Smith in 2021, Luke Sikma in 2019, Scottie Wilbekin in 2018 and Alexey Shved in 2017. One of the players on our shortlist of candidates has a chance to become the first player to be chosen EuroCup MVP twice. 

Errick Mccollum Top Plays of the 2021-22 Regular Season

2021-22 MVP candidate: Errick McCollum, Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar

### Errick McCollum, Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar 

McCollum was the EuroCup MVP in the 2015-16 season, in which he led Galatasaray Istanbul to the title. He is playing some of the best basketball of his career this season, leading the competition in PIR (24.2) and scoring (22.3 ppg.). It is also the highest scoring average in the competition after 12 games since Milan Gurovic of Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade (25.9 ppg in 14 games) in the 2006-07 campaign. McCollum is also averaging 3.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.2 steals and 6.3 fouls drawn, proving that he is much more than just an elite scorer. His teammate Johnathan Motley (23.9 PIR per game) has been out since January 12, but McCollum has stepped up to keep Lokomotiv as competitive as it can be. 

Kevin Punter Top Plays of the 2021-22 Regular Season

2021-22 MVP candidate: Kevin Punter, Partizan NIS Belgrade

### Kevin Punter, Partizan NIS Belgrade

There were a lot of expectations from the always-demanding Partizan fans and Punter has exceeded them, leading the team to a 9-4 record. Punter has averaged 17.5 points on 66.7% two-point and 88.5% free-throw shooting plus 3.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.3 steals for a PIR average of 19.8. He has scored in double digits in all of his games until now, topped by 28 points against Boulogne Metropolitans 92 in an 82-89 road victory in Round 6. Earlier, in Round 3, Punter hit every mid-range jumper his team needed to lead Partizan's wild comeback in a 68-67 home victory over Joventut Badalona. If Partizan needs someone to step up in crunch time, Punter is its number one choice. 

2021-22 MVP candidate: Ante Tomic, Joventut Badalona

### Ante Tomic, Joventut Badalona 

Simply put, Tomic is the best player on the best team in the competition thus far. Joventut leads Group A with an 11-2 record and is two wins ahead of the next closest team with five games remaining. Tomic has been its cornerstone, especially in offense, due to his passing skills, experience and low-post game. Tomic is averaging 10.0 points on 62.3% two-point shooting, 5.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists in just 20 minutes per night. He ranks second in PIR per 40 minutes (32.5), only trailing Motley (35.7). Every second that Tomic is on the court is a blessing for Joventut, as he reads double-teams like no other center in the EuroCup, allowing his team to find many open shots all around. 

2021-22 MVP candidate: Will Cummings, Boulogne Metropolitans 92

### Will Cummings, Boulogne Metropolitans 92 

A EuroCup champion with Darussafaka Istanbul in 2018, Cummings is playing a leading role for Boulogne Metropolitans 92 this season. Cummings ranks third in PIR average (21.0) and sixth in scoring (17.7 ppg.). He has also averaged 3.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 5.8 fouls drawn. Cummings has scored in double digits in all of his games but one with Metropolitans and posted a PIR higher than 30 three times: 34 and 33 in both games against former team Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar, in Rounds 3 and 12, respectively, and 32 against Turk Telekom Ankara in Round 10. Coach Vincent Collet runs his team's offense through Cummings and he has not disappointed any Metropolitans fans. 

2021-22 MVP candidate: Justin Cobbs, Buducnost VOLI Podgorica

### Justin Cobbs, Buducnost VOLI Podgorica 

Buducnost ranks third in Group B with an 8-5 record and Cobbs has a lot to do with his team's success until now. He is averaging 16.7 points on 46.2% three-point shots, 4.5 assists and 1.6 assists, ranking eighth in PIR at 19.4. Cobbs had a PIR of 44 - the second-highest in the EuroCup this season - in a near-perfect performance in Round 5 against Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana with 33 points and just 3 shots missed, 3 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals. He has scored in double digits in all games but one and had 4 assists in 11 of his team's 13 showdowns until now. In other words, Cobbs has been there all the way for Buducnost as its true floor general.