After falling in the first edition of the play-in tournament last season, Virtus is hungry for even more as it welcomes the always dangerous Efes.
Game Notes: Virtus vs. Efes
2024-25
3 Mins read
Luca Banchi’s team still has the backcourt experience of Daniel Hackett, Marco Belinelli and Isaia Cordinier, along with the inside presence of Ante Zizic and Toko Shengelia. Joining them are exciting new signings Matt Morgan and Will Clyburn, who faces an instant reunion with his former Efes teammates. Shane Larkin is an injury doubt for the Turkish team, which still has plenty of talented guards with Elijah Bryant, Rodrigue Beaubois and Darius Thompson. Coach Tomislav Mijatovic will also hope that new arrivals Vincent Poirier and Rolands Smits can give his team more power in the paint to prevail in this season opener.
Game Videos
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/e39a98e3-6bae-4949-9542-cc8d9c35c842.jpg]()
Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens-Anadolu Efes Istanbul | Playoffs Game 5 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:16
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Monster dunk from Poirier! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/6d52eb27-5a14-427d-b615-a32ef50c4363.jpg?crop=1279%3A719%3Anowe%3A42%3A30]()
Thompson with a steal and a dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
- 02:05
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/05/02/SQLvmi4JZGPXeij7jHXHG6cxw2ABtFIG-1746219996467.jpg]()
Shane Larkin: 'Big game from everybody'
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/ad002ce6-0411-4c9d-96cc-17ec3361db92.jpg]()
Anadolu Efes Istanbul-Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens | Playoffs Game 4 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:17
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/850106ee-7c58-4660-bc1b-fecf4901d712.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A138%3A46]()
Elijah Bryant with a big three! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:28
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/30/XKFxY9eQCKfwCkz5jeUe7Zy32S80IMXh-1746045205289.jpg]()
A monster dunk from Oturu! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/0c3a8223-b4f9-4317-8bba-6948f6dc3597.jpg]()
Anadolu Efes Istanbul-Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens | Playoffs Game 3 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:28
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/500741f1-8af1-4bac-9c05-45a6355ef421.jpg?crop=707%3A398%3Anowe%3A135%3A146]()
A fine dunk from Oturu! Motorola Magic Moment
- 02:40
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/b64df6b9-be98-4ad9-a84e-35b0cda31ed5.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A129%3A5]()
Masterpiece on the Mediterranean
- 01:34
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/24/AsiaypPBbOgg7sMsp3KAb1T9reRsG3yQ-1745527699985.jpg]()
Shane Larkin: 'We just had to stay poised'
- 01:01
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/24/64wD0jgGc7NPAmWG3JMdAg3NR9sEmpMn-1745527727057.jpg]()
Vincent Poirier: 'We finished until the end'
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/e17354f8-b7ce-452d-9a15-d80d4de50cf7.jpg]()
Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens-Anadolu Efes Istanbul | PO Game 2 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:32
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/24/89uMelBfYzsomRVjNdLrTJBY4gVLTi72-1745528400912.jpg]()
Larkin taking the lead for good! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/c8e42709-1c33-48de-8b0d-e520b79f6d2b.jpg?crop=826%3A465%3Anowe%3A118%3A59]()
Oturu with a mighty dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:21
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/117e75dd-713a-475a-a750-11816a23f986.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A128%3A76]()
Oturu with the alley-oop! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/7073f6c2-ad4c-4a7d-863b-51aeffb839fc.jpg?crop=1275%3A717%3Anowe%3A0%3A33]()
Poirier with the put-back slam! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:08
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/cec6a741-9037-48e2-906f-315b14c7caf0.jpg?crop=1258%3A708%3Anowe%3A46%3A46]()
Poirier with a fierce small-dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/d9020bd2-42d4-4eaf-89e5-aaea0842cf2e.jpg]()
Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens-Anadolu Efes Istanbul | PO Game-1 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:16
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/bbf9f2a0-f2f9-4ed7-942c-5e4713479b38.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A134%3A34]()
Larkin and Dozier conjure some magic! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/b34c15d6-1cd9-4a42-8f8b-d58c18a37979.jpg?crop=1238%3A697%3Anowe%3A56%3A57]()
Oturu with a strong dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/45829618-26f0-4e3f-9d81-44256e7d5a23.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A106%3A92]()
Poirier rips the rim! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/f20bc237-7edd-4cdd-b811-d7153da3cd6a.jpg]()
FC Barcelona-Virtus Segafredo Bologna | RS Round 34 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:24
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/11/MXcx4LkFEnOKhPmsO0LXp0aXi26avpvx-1744410398344.jpg]()
Poirier with a big dunk! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
- 02:30
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/11/3D1fS9AhhfucshuEtg1t2CcfNC6p4lyR-1744402127807.jpg]()
Shane Larkin: 'We've had to win every single game to get here'
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/ba942191-98e0-4bac-a768-97dba111b91c.jpg]()
Anadolu Efes Istanbul-Zalgiris Kaunas | RS Round 34 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:18
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/21c4b8d6-3688-4833-8c73-1c6981527ace.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A118%3A72]()
Polonara’s big put-back dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:16
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/be488eb7-2d92-4c1f-b820-64c286bde8d5.jpg?crop=1272%3A716%3Anowe%3A39%3A38]()
Nwora with a massive dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:12
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/05/YrHv1274soNJz9XGpwTUMnq5zfAjxJHm-1743811397945.jpg]()
Matt Morgan: 'As a team, we're starting to gel together'
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/2b76ec62-cb28-42ad-ab57-5b4a957d312f.jpg]()
Virtus Segafredo Bologna-EA7 Emporio Armani Milan | RS Round 33 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:52
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/05/i0HFkioIF819oZ650F0w0quDBsDi2rno-1743811398064.jpg]()
Vincent Poirier: 'Really proud of the team and what we've accomplished so far'
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/6183de28-f75a-4657-9218-b3ef7593c469.jpg]()
Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade-Anadolu Efes Istanbul | RS Round 33 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/31041c88-5da4-4a11-bff6-cdf614ba9764.jpg?crop=1230%3A692%3Anowe%3A60%3A57]()
Belinelli’s no-look pass! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/74e28ff0-dfaa-456c-9394-2979296d10f4.jpg?crop=1156%3A650%3Anowe%3A84%3A38]()
A sublime alley oop from Poirier! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/c45030af-08dc-4106-8d02-ce3f5a34ee69.jpg?crop=1172%3A659%3Anowe%3A103%3A62]()
A ferocious dunk from Thompson! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/79cd65c3-a22d-4d82-b3ae-f220ac3c7b00.jpg]()
ALBA Berlin-Virtus Segafredo Bologna | RS Round 32 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/d609197f-c83a-4032-ac31-e10863a4c457.jpg]()
Anadolu Efes Istanbul-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | RS Round 32 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:17
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/bb96d3f6-1448-45a3-8519-5cbfbd81ec17.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A270%3A41]()
Clyburn beats the buzzer! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9b1372f7-1126-4a53-9824-2219ca5d179b.jpg?crop=1294%3A728%3Anowe%3A0%3A74]()
Thompson to Poirier alley-oop! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:32
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/03/26/CKyFT0RrQ08EH0pL46rz5URc75xCt0N3-1743025105690.jpg]()
Shane Larkin breaking ankles! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9238fe42-4c6e-40c6-b57e-646ef163709f.jpg]()
Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade-Virtus Segafredo Bologna | RS Round 31 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:31
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/03/26/ncgaNO3XPDpfrCWGdJpVzKoaktciWAQr-1743019011423.jpg]()
Shane Larkin: 'To catch our rhythm at the right time is perfect'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/1b30c0c0-b546-4c20-a562-c140663c88f9.jpg]()
Anadolu Efes Istanbul-Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | RS Round 31 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:15
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/ec2e10ee-cf41-4ade-9a90-174fbf106566.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A83%3A73]()
Cordinier rocks the rim! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:15
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/1849ca30-8e30-4f6b-bf57-a39d5d49d680.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A61%3A81]()
Jordan Nwora denies his opponent! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/57539679-5394-420e-b104-0b7a93f5b449.jpg?crop=1282%3A722%3Anowe%3A44%3A73]()
Bryant sets up Poirier for an alley-oop! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:12
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/03/21/BEHrPoM5NhA5860LguXEnWNzHU2mpEjY-1742597326494.jpg]()
Elijah Bryant: 'Maybe I'll have some ice cream to celebrate'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/1e29304b-abd7-4650-85b0-12746ef3a04f.jpg]()
Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade-Anadolu Efes Istanbul | RS Round 30 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:18
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/60743b98-167c-46e3-b352-6819d6292c7c.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A161%3A77]()
Oturu with a incredible play! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/2c426c46-4a59-4d27-92e2-3af7d1149ca7.jpg]()
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv-Virtus Segafredo Bologna | RS Round 30 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- Virtus edged Efes 64-67 in the Play-in Showdown last season after the two teams finished in ninth and tenth place, respectively. Tornike Shengelia paced Virtus with 13 points, while Will Clyburn, who joined Virtus this summer, scored 22 for Efes.
- Last season in Istanbul, Efes beat Virtus 99-75 in Round 21, with Darius Thompson setting career highs in points (26) and steals (5).
- Last season in Bologna, Virtus beat Efes 93-81 in Round 6 as Tornike Shengelia earned MVP of the Round honors after collecting 19 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds for a PIR of 30.
- When these two teams met in Bologna in the 2022-23 season, the first time they played an official game in more than two decades, Efes held off Virtus 80-85 with Rodrigue Beaubois scoring 19 points and collecting a career-high 8 rebounds.
- Virtus and Efes played six times during the 1990s, too, and Efes won four of those games.
- Will Clyburn joined Virtus this summer after spending two seasons with Efes.
- Efes center Vincent Poirier was a teammate of Virtus forward Tornike Shengelia at Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz for two seasons, from 2017 to 2019.
- Virtus forward Achille Polonara spent the first half of the 2022-23 season with Efes.
- Polonara posted career highs in points (23) and assists (6) while playing for Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz against Efes in April 2021.
- Ante Zizic moved from Efes to Virtus ahead of Round 18 last season after spending a season and a half with Efes.
- Efes forward Rolands Smits has played under Virtus coach Luca Banchi and been a teammate of Virtus's Andrejs Graziulis with the Latvian national team.
- Rodrigue Beaubois dished a career-best 7 assists in Efes's home win over Virtus in March 2023.
- Efes guard Elijah Bryant grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds, all on the defensive end, against Virtus in March 2023.
- Virtus guard Daniel Hackett posted his career highs in points (31) and triples made (6) while playing for CSKA Moscow against Efes in February 2022.