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Virtus Segafredo Bologna champ Final Bologna 2022

Virtus Segafredo Arena - EuroCup Final Bologna 2022

Milos Teodosic MVP - Virtus Segafredo Bologna champ Final Bologna 2022 

Tornike Shengelia - Virtus Segafredo Bologna - Final Bologna 2022

Onuralp Bitim - Frutti Extra Bursaspor - Final Bologna 2022

Milos Teodosic - Virtus Segafredo Bologna - Final Bologna 2022

Andrew Andrews - Frutti Extra Bursaspor - Final Bologna 2022

Daniel Hackett - Virtus Segafredo Bologna - Final Bologna 2022

Onuralp Bitim - Frutti Extra Bursaspor - Final Bologna 2022 

Kevarrius Hayes - Frutti Extra Bursaspor - Final Bologna 2022

Isaia Cordinier - Virtus Segafredo Bologna - Final Bologna 2022

 Round 16: Top 10 Photos

INTERVIEWS

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana stole the home-court advantage in the Slovenian League finals by downing Helios Suns 66-81 in Game 1 of their best-of-five series on Wednesday. 


Domestic leagues: Olimpija gets first win in Slovenian finals

Yogi Ferrell and Alen Omic allowed Cedevita to get an early 10-13 lead. Helios answered with an 11-0 run that gave the hosts a 21-13 lead early in the second quarter. Ferrell kept pacing Cedevita, getting help from Jaka Blazic and Zach Auguste to get the guests within 35-33 at halftime. Omic scored down low to complete Cedevita's comeback, 35-37, right after the break. Zoran Dragic, Blazic and Jacob Pullen each struck from downtown to boost their team's margin to 51-55 at the end of the third quarter. Pullen hit back-to-back triples and Auguste added a layup to make it a double-digit game, 52-63, with over 7 minutes left. Cedveita boosted its margin to 59-74 and never looked back. 

Ferrell led the winners with 19 points. Pullen added 16, Dragic had 14, Blazic got 12 while Omic pulled down 16 rebounds for Cedevita, which hosts Game 2 on Saturday. Carlbe Ervin led Helios with 21 points. 

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="sl" dir="ltr">ZMAGA! 1:0 za Zmaje v finalu.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ZmajevoSrce?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ZmajevoSrce</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LigaNovaKBM?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LigaNovaKBM</a> <a href="https://t.co/HuEQGPu8XP">pic.twitter.com/HuEQGPu8XP</a></p>&mdash; Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (@KKCedOL) <a href="https://twitter.com/KKCedOL/status/1529559047761960962?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 25, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana stole the home-court advantage in the Slovenian League finals by downing Helios Suns 66-81 in Game 1 of their best-of-five series on Wednesday. 



Yogi Ferrell - Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (photo Ales Ferves - Cedevita) - EC21

After Sergio Scariolo added to his coaching legacy by leading Virtus Segafredo Bologna to the 7DAYS EuroCup crown, he summed up his team's strong season in this interview.

Coach Sergio Scariolo, Virtus: ‘The team and the fans were one’

Sergio Scariolo will go down as one of the best and most versatile coaches in European basketball history. He was 29 years old when he led Scavolini Pesaro to the Italian League championship and helped Unicaja Malaga win its first domestic titles, the 2005 Copa del Rey and the 2006 Spanish League championship. Scariolo also helped Scavolini and Unicaja reach the EuroLeague Final Four for the first - and to date only - time and won another Spanish championship with Real Madrid. Scariolo has been hugely successful with the Spanish national team, which he has led to a Basketball World Cup title, three EuroBasket crowns and two Olympic medals, among other highlights. In the NBA, he helped Toronto win the title in 2019 as one of the team's assistant coaches. One of the only things lacking in his trophy case was a continental title and Scariolo just captured that by leading Virtus Segafredo Bologna to the 2021-22 7DAYS EuroCup crown. He has a reputation for getting his teams to peak at the right time and that’s what Virtus did by winning nine of its last 10 games to lift the trophy. "Winning teams usually have to do that. If not, then they are not winning teams," Scariolo said. "When you have to do it is when it matters most: at the start of the playoffs, in do-or-die games when final verdicts are delivered." 

**Hello, Sergio, congratulations on winning the 7DAYS EuroCup. It has been a long, tough season and Virtus went all the way? How satisfied are you with the final outcome and the way your team competed, especially in the final two months of the season?** 

"Thank you. I am satisfied with the whole season, the way we started. We played great basketball in the pre-season, at a level that I rarely remember in any of my teams, in terms of quality. Regrettably, we had two really unfortunate accidents that can break your season open: Ekpe Udoh and Awudu Abass, two of our defensive pillars, got injured for the entire season. And then we had more injuries - Jaiteh, Belinelli, Pajola, Teodosic, even Sampson when he arrived. It was a horrible streak of injuries that didn't allow us to play with good rhythm. In February, after the Italian Cup tournament, we started to be healthy and play with continuity. And then we completed the team's structure by signing Toko Shengelia and Daniel Hackett, who gave us a touch of maturity, experience and solidity that we maybe didn't have." 

"In Bologna, when you light the fuse, the city responds." 

**You played a EuroCup final with Khimki Moscow Region in 2009, but this is your first title. Was winning the EuroCup a pending issue for you after losing that final?** 

"No, it has been a long time! I won a lot of titles and played a lot of finals after that and I have been through a lot… I have to say I thought about it at some point because obviously, like you said, I played a EuroCup final before, but I didn't feel it was a pending issue for me. It was more of a great opportunity to win a title at home. I had never won a title at home. All the titles and medals that I won were on the road."

**It is not the first time that one of your teams struggled a bit early in the season but finished really strong, bringing out its best basketball at the right time. Is it something that, as a coach, you look for?** 

"Winning teams usually have to do that. If not, then they are not winning teams. If you are a good team from October to June, fantastic, you are outstanding. But winning teams are good when it matters most, when it is time to win. Also, there are thousands of circumstances that may have an impact on your final outcome. Sometimes you don't win and your team did a great job, too. But when you have to do it is when it matters most: at the start of the playoffs, in do-or-die games, when final verdicts are delivered." 

**You talked about Shengelia and Hackett. How important was their commitment and their winning mentality?** 

"Like I said, this is a team that was already playing very well and at times, incredibly well. But at the same time, it lacked that ability to make the right play in the key moment. We won almost all Italian League games but in the EuroCup, a more physical league, you really notice it when you are missing three or four players. You don't have the bench depth for those absences not to be noticed. In the EuroCup, we lacked that extra toughness, experience and physicality. Toko and Dani knew how to adjust to the team, without looking for a role that they had in their previous teams which we couldn't give them now. They came in and brought out their best version, being experienced players that know how to help a team win." 

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Guys celebrated with the coach 🥰😂<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WatchUs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WatchUs</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/7DAYSEuroCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#7DAYSEuroCup</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoadToGreatness?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoadToGreatness</a> <a href="https://t.co/lvtZK77kTX">pic.twitter.com/lvtZK77kTX</a></p>&mdash; Virtus Segafredo Bologna (@Virtusbo) <a href="https://twitter.com/Virtusbo/status/1524503612247920641?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

**Speaking of winners, Mam Jaiteh made the most out of his opportunity and became this season's EuroCup MVP. How do you evaluate the step forwards he took in his career?** 

"He surely was the most improved player of the year, too. He came from a lower level and his initial role was to complement a more experienced player \[Udoh\] who would theoretically teach him and help him grow. That was our initial plan, but soon he found himself catapulted into a main role. It was hard for him at the beginning because he had physical problems and didn't feel well until December. He kept learning and getting better. He is very humble and always says 'thank you', always wants to learn and improve his game. He is the paradigm of what we always say: that hard work pays off. I am happy for him because of that; he grew as a player during the season, working hard, listening to us and being confident, and accepting criticism and corrections. I got to know him a little bit in the last few months and I trust him not to change that mentality because he still has room for improvement." 

**In the playoffs, you had three home wins and a single road victory against four-time champion Valencia Basket in the semifinals. Your first half was fantastic, arguably some of the best basketball in the EuroCup this season. What was the game plan against them?** 

"What we really wanted was to play at a high rhythm, which is what defines us as a team and to keep it as long as we could, as many minutes as possible. Controlling the boards was really important, as well as limiting Bojan Dubljevic's performance as effectively as we could. We tried to limit the connection between him and the rest of his teammates, especially against their other big man on the court. We had to try to be able to play good defense against him, inside and outside the paint, without sending big helps. And in that sense, Toko Shengelia did a great job, he used his versatility to go against him on both sides of the court, guarding 'Dubi' well inside and outside, one-on-one, without using big helps." 

Virtus Segafredo Bologna is the 2021-22 7DAYS EuroCup champion! Virtus became the first Italian team to ever win the competition by downing Frutti Extra Bursaspor 80-67 in front of a wild sellout crowd at Virtus Segafredo Arena on Wednesday. Virtus lifted its sixth continental trophy and earned the right to play in the 2022-23 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.

Virtus Segafredo Bologna vs Frutti Extra Bursaspor | Highlights | Final

**As we discussed, it's been a while since you last coached in the EuroCup. How did the competition change? Is it stronger than before?** 

"It is hard for me to compare because it has been a really long time. What I heard from a lot of people who followed the EuroCup a lot closer is that it has been the best and toughest season in the last few years. Again, it is hard for me to compare, but I can say that it had a really high playing level. For instance, our regular season group had a really high level and it was shown in the bracket; I wouldn't call it playoffs, it was a bracket, call it what you will. Our regular season group had a really strong level and the competition featured great teams with great players. That makes us have some extra pride, too, being able to finish on top in such a good, demanding competition." 

**In the final, there was the first sellout crowd at Virtus Segafredo Arena. Elite basketball is back to Basket City. How great is that?** 

"Bologna is a basketball city. Of course, results trigger the fans' enthusiasm and lead to massive crowds. But in Bologna, when you light the fuse, the city responds. Not many cities can brag about their passion and interest in basketball. It is at the same level as football, even when the football team is a consolidated first division team. It is not a normal situation. Like I said before, winning my first final at home has been special, because of the atmosphere. It generated certain pressure in the days before the game due to the high expectations. There is no doubt that we had some of that, but of course, the team and the fans were one. It was far from being a high-pressure situation, like all of Bursaspor's playoffs rivals. It was a strong motivation, an extra push." 

"Jaiteh is the paradigm of what we always say: that hard work pays off. I am happy for him because of that."

**AX Armani Exchange Milan made it to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four last season and Virtus is the first Italian team to win the EuroCup. How much of a good sign in this for Italian basketball going forward?** 

"Right now, we have a good technical level. The league doesn't have an extraordinary physical level but has a good technical level, without any question. Some teams are getting there - Reyer and Sassari are always up there, then Brescia and Tortona are new teams, with solid management, ambitious, and ready to keep growing. That can only be good for Italian and European basketball because, in the end, Italy has been one of the basketball cradles in Europe, especially in terms of coaches, speaking about what I do. It has been one of the greatest coaching schools in world basketball and one of the countries to see as a reference. Milan deserves a lot of credit to get back up there, pushed by Giorgio Armani, whose support has been fantastic. And then Massimo Zanetti deserves even more credit, I think, because he took Virtus in the Italian second division. He had the vision to bring to the only place that a basketball city like Bologna deserves. The City of Bologna gives you back like no other in terms of support, but you have to bring it up there. Our owner's effort has really been tremendous. Like I said, other teams are pushing, too, and I am intrigued to see where they reach, what they will be able to do." 

**Virtus locked up a spot in the 2022-23 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. How satisfying is it for you to bring Virtus back where it belongs, the very elite of European basketball?** 

"I feel happy and also relieved. When I got here, Virtus had just won the Italian championships in kind of an unexpected way. I could feel the disappointment for not reaching the EuroCup Finals last season, which gave you a spot in the EuroLeague, more than the joy for winning the Italian League title, which was an unbelievable win. I felt it and I was even surprised; 'the Kazan spirit' was in the air and all around, all season long, I have to admit it. It was a painful loss and this is why I wanted to include Sasa \[Djordjevic\] and his coaching staff in this win. Other than that, a wise man once said that big success is an entry ticket to a more difficult challenge and we all have to be fully aware of it, each and every one in the club, no matter what role they have. It is what it is. If we want to raise the bar, we need to have the skills and strong legs to jump over it again. That is our next challenge and everybody is willing to work in the same direction. We hope we will make the right decisions to do even better."

Sergio Scariolo - Virtus Segafredo Bologna champ Final Bologna 2022 - EC21-Final

Virtus Segafredo Bologna v Frutti Extra Bursaspor (2022-05-11T18:30:00.000Z)

Travis Trice scored all points in a 0-7 run in the final 3 minutes of the game that lifted Slask to a road win that gave it 3-1 lead in the final series. It's been 20 years since Slask, the most decorated basketball club in Polish history, last won the Polish League crown. In Game 4, team changed leads throughout the 40 minutes. Legia held 63-59 lead entering the final 3 minutes, but Travis Trice hit a three-pointer, then split free throws to tie the game at 63-63 with 1:06 left, before knocking down a game-winning triple with 33 second left. Trice finished with 21 points, making 4-of-7 triples, grabbed 9 rebounds and dished 8 assists. His brother D'mitrik Trice scored 13 points and Lukasz Kolenda scored 11 in a victory.

It's the third straight road win in four final games so far. After Slask opened the series with 76-72 home win, Legia won Game 2 with 85-88 decision. But Slask beat Legia 74-81 on Sunday to take 2-1 lead, and now is a game away from winning its 18th Polish League title.

Slask Wroclaw is one win away from winning the Polish League title after a 63-66 win over Legia Warsaw in Game 4 of their best-of-seven series on Tuesday.

Domestic leagues: Trice lifts Slask to 3-1 lead in Polish finals

AS Monaco made history on Friday by topping host UNICS Kazan 83-86 to become the first French League team ever to win the 7DAYS EuroCup title.

7DAYS EuroCup champions (2003 - 2021)

### EuroCup Final 2022

Bologna, Italy

Game 1, [Virtus Segafredo Bologna 80-67 Frutti Extra Bursaspor](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2021-22/virtus-segafredo-bologna-frutti-extra-bursaspor/U2021/195/#boxscore)

Finals MVP: Milos Teodosic,  Virtus Segafredo Bologna

#### Champ: Virtus Segafredo Bologna

### EuroCup Finals 2021

Monaco, Principality of Monaco and Kazan, Russian Federation

Game 1, [AS Monaco 89-87 UNICS Kazan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2020-21/as-monaco-unics-kazan/U2020/184/#boxscore)

Game 2, [UNICS Kazan 83-86 AS Monaco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2020-21/unics-kazan-as-monaco/U2020/185/#boxscore)

Finals MVP: Rob Gray, AS Monaco

#### Champ: AS Monaco

### EuroCup Finals 2019

Valencia, Spain and Berlin, Germany

Game 1, [Valencia Basket 89-75 ALBA Berlin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2018-19/valencia-basket-alba-berlin/U2018/184/#boxscore)

Game 2, [ALBA Berlin 95-92 Valencia Basket](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2018-19/alba-berlin-valencia-basket/U2018/185/#boxscore)

Game 3, [Valencia Basket 89-63 ALBA Berlin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2018-19/valencia-basket-alba-berlin/U2018/186/#boxscore)

Finals MVP: Will Thomas, Valencia Basket

#### Champ: Valencia Basket

### EuroCup Finals 2018

Krasnodar, Russian Federation and Istanbul, Turkey

Game 1, [Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar 78-81 Darussafaka Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2017-18/lokomotiv-kuban-krasnodar-darussafaka-istanbul/U2017/183/#boxscore)

Game 2, [Darrusafaka Istanbul 67-59 Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2017-18/darussafaka-istanbul-lokomotiv-kuban-krasnodar/U2017/184/#boxscore)

Finals MVP: Scottie Wilbekin, Darussafaka Istanbul

#### Champ: Darussafaka Istanbul

### EuroCup Finals 2017

Valencia and Malaga, Spain

Game 1, [Valencia Basket 68-62 Unicaja Malaga](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2016-17/valencia-basket-unicaja-malaga/U2016/184/#boxscore)

Game 2, [Unicaja Malaga 79-71 Valencia Basket](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2016-17/unicaja-malaga-valencia-basket/U2016/185/#boxscore)

Game 3, [Valencia Basket 58-63 Unicaja Malaga](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2016-17/valencia-basket-unicaja-malaga/U2016/186/)

Finals MVP: Alberto Diaz, Unicaja Malaga

#### Champ: Unicaja Malaga

### EuroCup Finals 2016

Strasbourg, France and Istanbul, Turkey

Game 1, [Strasbourg 66-62 Galatasaray Odeabank Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2015-16/strasbourg-galatasaray-odeabank-istanbul/U2015/305/#boxscore)

Game 2, [Galatasaray Odeabank Istanbul 78-67 Strasbourg](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2015-16/galatasaray-odeabank-istanbul-strasbourg/U2015/306/#boxscore)

Finals MVP: Stephane Lasme, Galatasaray Odeabank Istanbul

#### Champ: Galatasaray Odeabank Istanbul

### EuroCup Finals 2015

Las Palmas, Spain and Moscow Region, Russian Federation

Game 1, [Herbalife Gran Canaria 66-91 Khimki Moscow Region](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2014-15/herbalife-gran-canaria-khimki-moscow-region/U2014/305/#boxscore)

Game 2, [Khimki Moscow Region 83-64 Herbalife Gran Canaria](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2014-15/khimki-moscow-region-herbalife-gran-canaria/U2014/306/#boxscore)

Finals MVP: Tyrese Rice, Khimki Moscow Region

#### Champ: Khimki Moscow Region

### EuroCup Finals 2014

Valencia, Spain and Kazan, Russian Federation

Game 1, [Valencia Basket 80-67 UNICS Kazan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2013-14/valencia-basket-club-unics-kazan/U2013/365/#boxscore)

Game 2, [UNICS Kazan 73-85 Valencia Basket](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2013-14/unics-kazan-valencia-basket-club/U2013/366/#boxscore)

Finals MVP: Justin Doellman, Valencia Basket

#### Champ: Valencia Basket

### EuroCup Final 2013

RTL Spiroudome in Charleroi, Belgium

Game, [Uxue Bilbao 64-75 Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2012-13/uxue-bilbao-lokomotiv-kuban-krasnodar/U2012/157/#boxscore)

Final MVP: Richard Hendrix, Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar

#### Champ: Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar

### EuroCup Final 2012

Basketball Center of Moscow Region, Russian Federation

Game, [Khimki Moscow Region 77-68 Valencia Basket](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2011-12/khimki-moscow-region-valencia-basket/U2011/156/#boxscore)

Final MVP: Zoran Planinic, Khimki Moscow Region

#### Champ: Khimki Moscow Region

### EuroCup Final 2011

Palaverde in Treviso, Italy

Game, [UNICS Kazan 92-77 Cajasol Seville](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2010-11/unics-kazan-cajasol-seville/U2010/156/#boxscore)

Final MVP: Marko Popovic, UNICS Kazan

#### Champ: UNICS Kazan

### EuroCup Final 2010

Fernando Buesa Arena in Vitoria, Spain

Game, [ALBA Berlin 44-67 Power Electronics Valencia](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2009-10/alba-berlin-power-electronics-valencia/U2009/156/#boxscore)

Finals MVP: Matt Nielsen, Power Electronics Valencia

#### Champ: Power Electronics Valencia

### EuroCup Final 2009

[**Final Eight 2009**](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/?round=15&season=U2008) Palasport Olimpico in Turin, Italy

Game, [Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius 80-74 Khimki Moscow Region](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2008-09/lietuvos-rytas-vilnius-khimki-moscow-region/U2008/151/#boxscore)

Final Eight MVP: Marijonas Petravicius, Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius

#### Champ: Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius

### EuroCup Final 2008

[**Final Eight 2008**](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/?round=17&season=U2007) Palavela Arena in Turin, Italy

Game, Akasvayu Girona 54-79 DKV Joventut Badalona

Final Eight MVP: Rudy Fernandez, DKV Joventut Badalona

#### Champ: DKV Joventut Badalona

### EuroCup Final 2007

Spiroudome in Charleroi, Belgium

Game, [Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius 75-87 Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2006-07/lietuvos-rytas-vilnius-real-madrid/U2006/149/#boxscore)

Final MVP: Charles Smith, Real Madrid

#### Champ: Real Madrid

### EuroCup Final 2006

Spiroudome in Charleroi, Belgium

Game, [Aris Thessaloniki 60-73 Dynamo Moscow](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2005-06/aris-thessaloniki-dynamo-moscow/U2005/149/#boxscore)

Final MVP: Ruben Douglas, Dynamo Moscow

#### Champ: Dynamo Moscow

### EuroCup Final 2005

Spiroudome in Charleroi, Belgium

Game, [Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius 78-74 Makedonikos Kozani](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2004-05/lietuvos-rytas-vilnius-makedonikos-kozani/U2004/239/#boxscore)

Final MVP: Robertas Javtokas, Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius

#### Champ: Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius

### EuroCup Final 2004

Spiroudome in Charleroi, Belgium

Game, [Real Madrid 73-82 Hapoel Migdal Jerusalem](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2003-04/real-madrid-hapoel-migdal-jerusalem/U2003/209/#boxscore)

Final MVP: Kelly McCarty, Hapoel Migdal Jerusalem

#### Champ: Hapoel Migdal Jerusalem

### EuroCup Final 2003

Valencia, Spain and Novo Mesto, Slovenia

Game 1, [KRKA Novo Mesto 78-90 Pamesa Valencia](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2002-03/krka-novo-mesto-pamesa-valencia/U2002/149/#boxscore)

Game 2, [Pamesa Valencia 78-76 KRKA Novo Mesto](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2002-03/pamesa-valencia-krka-novo-mesto/U2002/150/#boxscore)

Finals MVP: Dejan Tomasevic, Pamesa Valencia

#### Champ: Pamesa Valencia

<table class="table">
    <thead>

        <tr>
            <th><div align="left">Titles</div></th>
            <th> <div align="left">Team</div></th>
            <th><div align="left">Country</div></th>
            <th><div align="left">Finals</div></th>
            <th><div align="left">Years <br />
            </div></th>
        </tr>
    </thead>
    <tbody>
         <tr>
          <td>&nbsp;</td>
          <td>&nbsp;</td>
          <td>&nbsp;</td>
          <td>&nbsp;</td>
          <td>(titles won in bold)</td>
        </tr>
		<tr>
            <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
            <td><strong>Valencia Basket</strong></td>
            <td>Spain</td>
            <td><div align="center">6</div></td>
            <td><p><strong>2019</strong>, 2017, <strong>2014</strong>, <br />2012, <strong>2010</strong>, <strong>2003</strong> </p></td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
            <td><strong>Khimki Moscow Region</strong></td>
            <td>Russian Federation</td>
            <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
            <td><strong>2015</strong>, <strong>2012</strong>, 2009 </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
            <td><strong>Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius </strong></td>
            <td>Lithuania</td>
            <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
            <td><strong>2009</strong>, 2007, <strong>2005</strong> </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
            <td><strong>UNICS Kazan</strong></td>
            <td>Russian Federation</td>
            <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
            <td>2014, <strong>2011</strong>, 2021 </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
            <td><strong>Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar</strong></td>
            <td>Russian Federation</td>
            <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
            <td><strong>2013</strong>, 2018 </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
            <td><strong>Real Madrid</strong></td>
            <td>Spain</td>
            <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
            <td><strong>2007</strong>, 2004 </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
            <td><strong>Virtus Segafredo Bologna</strong></td>
            <td>Italy</td>
            <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
            <td><strong>2022</strong> </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
            <td><strong>AS Monaco</strong></td>
            <td>Principality of Monaco</td>
            <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
            <td><strong>2021</strong> </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
            <td><strong>Darussafaka Istanbul</strong></td>
            <td>Turkey</td>
            <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
            <td><strong>2018</strong> </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
            <td><strong>Unicaja Malaga</strong></td>
            <td>Spain</td>
            <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
            <td><strong>2017</strong> </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
            <td><strong>Galatasaray Istanbul</strong></td>
            <td>Turkey</td>
            <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
            <td><strong>2016</strong> </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
            <td><strong>Joventut Badalona</strong></td>
            <td>Spain</td>
            <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
            <td><strong>2008</strong> </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
            <td><strong>Dynamo Moscow</strong></td>
            <td>Russian Federation</td>
            <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
            <td><strong>2006</strong> </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
            <td><strong>Hapoel Jerusalem</strong></td>
            <td>Israel</td>
            <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
            <td><strong>2004</strong> </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
            <td><strong>ALBA Berlin</strong></td>
            <td>Germany</td>
            <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
            <td>2019, 2010 </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
            <td><strong>Frutti Extra Bursaspor</strong></td>
            <td>Turkey</td>
            <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
            <td>2022 </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
            <td><strong>Strasbourg</strong></td>
            <td>France</td>
            <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
            <td>2016 </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
            <td><strong>Gran Canaria</strong></td>
            <td>Spain</td>
            <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
            <td>2015 </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
            <td><strong>Bilbao Basket</strong></td>
            <td>Spain</td>
            <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
            <td>2013 </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
            <td><strong>Baloncesto Sevilla</strong></td>
            <td>Spain</td>
            <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
            <td>2011 </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
            <td><strong>CB Girona</strong></td>
            <td>Spain</td>
            <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
            <td>2008 </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
            <td><strong>Aris Thessaloniki</strong></td>
            <td>Greece</td>
            <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
            <td>2006 </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
            <td><strong>Makedonikos</strong></td>
            <td>Greece</td>
            <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
            <td>2005 </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
            <td><strong>Krka Novo Mesto</strong></td>
            <td>Slovenia</td>
            <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
            <td>2003 </td>
        </tr>
    </tbody>
</table>

Since 2003, winning the 7DAYS EuroCup title has been synonymous with joining the true elite of European club basketball, complete with entry the next season into the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. Check out the roll-call of EuroCup champions!

7DAYS EuroCup champions (2003-2022)

Virtus Segafredo Bologna champ Final Bologna 2022 - EC21-Final

Look back at all the action in the final by checking out the best photos!

EuroCup Final: Top 10 photos

Isaia Cordinier and David Dudzinski - Virtus Segafredo Bologna vs. Frutti Extra Bursaspor

Mam Jaiteh - Virtus Segafredo Bologna

Onuralp Bitim - Frutti Extra Bursaspor

Milos Teodosic - Virtus Segafredo Bologna

Andrew Andrews and Kyle Weems battle for the ball.

Daniel Hackett - Virtus Segafredo Bologna

Derek Needham - Frutti Extra Bursaspor

John Holland - Frutti Extra Bursaspor

Tornike Shengelia - Virtus Segafredo Bologna

Virtus Segafredo Bologna made history by topping Frutti Extra Bursaspor and becoming the first Italian team ever to win the 7DAYS EuroCup title.  Look back at all the action in the EuroCup Finals in Bologna by checking out the best photos!

Andrew Andrews - Frutti Extra Bursaspor - Final Bologna 2022 - EC21-Final

Isaia Cordinier - Virtus Segafredo Bologna - Final Bologna 2022 - EC21-Final

Mam Jaiteh - Virtus Segafredo Bologna - Final Bologna 2022 - EC21-Final

Onuralp Bitim - Frutti Extra Bursaspor - Final Bologna 2022 - EC21-Final

Milos Teodosic - Virtus Segafredo Bologna - Final Bologna 2022 - EC21-Final

Daniel Hackett - Virtus Segafredo Bologna - Final Bologna 2022 - EC21-Final

Derek Needham - Frutti Extra Bursaspor - Final Bologna 2022 - EC21-Final

John Holland - Frutti Extra Bursaspor - Final Bologna 2022 - EC21-Final

Tornike Shengelia 2- Virtus Segafredo Bologna - Final Bologna 2022 - EC21-Final

Kyle Weems, Virtus: 'It's been a crazy, crazy ride'

I have been waiting for this moment for a long time. For a looong time. My EuroCup blog has been going on for a long time, since my first son was born. And I remember I talked about it in one of our first blogs, so it's just crazy to see it kind of come full circle. I was disappointed that year as Strasbourg dropped out of the EuroLeague down to the EuroCup in the last year of that style of competition. I thought we had a real chance. We were up by 8 points against Galatasaray and we only ended up winning that game, that first leg, by 4. So we knew going to their place in front of a sold-out Abdi Ipecki Arena, it was going to be very difficult. To lose that game was very disappointing, but I knew one day hopefully I would be able to come back to this competition and be able to compete at a high level. I felt like I did that in Tofas, but obviously, we didn't make the Top 16. And then I came here to Virtus with a big club, big roster, with a lot of good names and great quality in the roster. The pandemic happened, and then obviously last year we brought back that same roster, plus a couple more pieces, but then lost after being up 1-0 against Kazan.

But this year we had a better finish and finally went all the way. We are EuroCup champions. I am really, really grateful and very humbled. I'm just glad that I was able to stick to it and keep going. And the feeling is great. I have to say I am especially happy for our fans. I'm not sure if I have told you, but I have told a lot of reporters in the past: Virtus fans have a special place in my heart. When I lost my father to lung cancer a couple of years ago, they were super supportive - signs, messages on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook. They flooded my inbox, no matter how they could do it, and the support and the cheers are something that I can never pay them back. Playing in front of them, wearing a Virtus jersey, I always want to play to the best of my ability, play to the best of my energy, enthusiasm, because they are truly great fans.

"Virtus fans have a special place in my heart. When I lost my father to lung cancer a couple of years ago, they were super supportive"

They really love the game. They love Virtus and the city of Bologna. So I just try to reciprocate that and give them the same energy that they give us. And I think yesterday it was a huge factor for us in some key moments in the game. Bursaspor is a great team. There were a couple of times they fought back within 9. Then they fought back within 5, 6, 7, and each time we made a big play, the crowd was crazy and enormous. Belinelli hit a three to go up 11 and Milos hit another three to go up 14 at different points of the game. They deserved that and they were great. I'm glad that we were able to give them that type of game in front of a packed house.

Of course, we celebrated a lot in the locker room. It was great, honestly, and the reason why I feel like it was great is for guys that a lot of people might think I'm crazy. But it was great for guys like Michele Ruzzier, Marco Ceron, who come to practice every single day and they don't get a lot of action in time in the game, but each and every day they come and they are ready and prepared. The same with Nico Mannion, who has had a tough year. They practice hard and play hard whenever they come into the game. Their attitude is great. I have the utmost respect for those guys.

Kyle Weems (11 points) Highlights vs. Frutti Extra Bursaspor, 05/11/2022

Kyle Weems 11 points Highlights vs Frutti Extra Bursaspo

And then on the flip side, you've got guys like Ekpe Udoh, who has been at the top level in Europe and also in the NBA. Him going down with a season-ending injury was really tough for our team, but a lot of people also forget how tough it is for him as an individual. It hurt me to see him go down because I know the type of player and person he is, but whenever he came back from rehabbing in the States, his energy and his enthusiasm and his leadership have been felt every single day. And I'm just so happy that he and Awudu Abass, who also had a season-ending injury, were able to feel that energy, feel that passion, because they were important, even though they physically couldn't be out there with us, their talks, their leadership, the way that they communicate with us and communicate with the coaching staff, it was very, very pivotal in the way that we kind of turned our season around in mid-March.

We were one of the favorites since the start of the season and ended up going all the way. It is great, strictly because the city was expecting it, the club was expecting it. Our coaching staff was kind of expecting it, too, but you got to put it all together. You have to have a little bit of luck. You have to have good health - and when I say good health, I mean good health at the right time. You can't be healthy all year and then deal with injuries at the wrong time. You've got to be healthy at the right time. I think we all continued to buy into what Coach Sergio was selling and that was share the ball, be physical, play good defense and play for one another, be selfless. And I felt like we did that. It's good to kind of overcome that pressure, if you want to call it pressure, because a lot of people in this competition, especially in the do-or-die games, they failed, so I'm just happy that we were able to come out on top.

"I'm excited about the future of our club because they deserve to be there, in the EuroLeague."

It's been a crazy, crazy ride. And now, I am going back to the EuroLeague. I have always felt like, in a sense, that I have kind of belonged, but I know that God has his own way of working things out. And also I believe in the basketball gods. I know I might sound crazy, but the basketball gods reward you in a weird and mysterious way when you put the work in and you just keep going and keep going, hitting the nail on the head. That's what I have been trying to do these last few years, ever since I left Strasbourg - and it's a blessing.

But it's not about me. I'm excited about the future of our club because they deserve to be there, in the EuroLeague. They have wanted to be there since I have been here. Now that we finally kind of punched that ticket and made it official, I'm really excited for them and I'm excited for our coaching staff and our teammates for all the hard work that has been put in.

Days after Virtus Segafredo Bologna lifted the 7DAYS EuroCup trophy, Kyle Weems touches base to remember the experience and also look ahead to the future. A future in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.

Kyle Weems - Virtus Segafredo Bologna champ Final Bologna 2022 - EC21-Final

Virtus won its first-ever 7DAYS EuroCup title, but it wasn't easy. Despite Virtus leading almost all the way, Frutti Extra Bursaspor got within 64-59 early in the fourth quarter. In the final 7 minutes, however, Birtus outhustled its opponent, led by EuroCup MVP Mam Jaiteh and Kyle Weems. 

Jaiteh, Weems provided late answers for Virtus

Once Bursaspor made it a five-point game, Virtus head coach Sergio Scariolo called timeout and one of the key plays of the game took place. Marco Belinelli missed from downtown, Kevin Hervey grabbed a long rebound and shot the ball straight away, but missed. Belinelli gave Virtus a third chance to score and Hervey downed a critical jumper. After an offensive rebound allowed Jaiteh to score around the basket, Shengelia soon added a big basket off the baseline for a 70-60 Virtus lead. 

As always in the second part of the season, Bursaspor fought until the end, staying within 76-67 with 3 minutes left. Metin Turen missed a wide-open three-point shot, Jaiteh grabbed the rebound and soon got the ball back from Milos Teodosic to throw it down. Virtus needed stops in key moments and Weems provided them with a couple of critical blocks on Andrew Andrews. The second one, a wild chase-down block off the glass, allowed Teodosic to score at the other end and seal the outcome, 80-67. In fact, neither team scored after that, so the outcome was completely sealed.

Mam Jaiteh and Kyle Weems played a key role for Virtus Segafredo Bologna in the 7DAYS EuroCup Final against Frutti Extra Bursaspor.

Jaiteh, Weems made the difference

Jaiteh finished the game with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Weems had 13 points, 4 rebounds and a career-high 4 blocks, which also tied for the second-most ever in the finals. Until now, Weems had 29 blocks in 79 EuroCup career games, but just like Jaiteh, he stepped up at the right time.        

"We had some ups and downs in the game, but we always respected them and we knew that until the clock stopped, we couldn't relax," Jaiteh said. "So we're very proud. Very happy. I have no words; I'm just truly happy. I hope this feeling lasts forever."

A strong start and an even better finish paved the way for Virtus Segafredo Bologna to claim the 2021-22 7DAYS EuroCup crown and earn the right to be in the 2022-23 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. 

Telling numbers: Virtus started and finished strong 

Virtus used an outstanding first quarter to take a double-digit lead, 25-12, and never trailed after that. Virtus made 5 of 10 two-pointers (50%) and 3 of 5 three-pointers (60%) in the opening 10 minutes while holding Bursaspor to much lower percentages (33.3% 2FG, 28.6% 3FG). Virtus also outrebounded its opponent 11-5, including 5 offensive boards, and collected 5 steals. Bursaspor finished the first quarter with 7 turnovers and no steals. All that led to a remarkable difference in the teams' numbers; Virtus had a PIR of 37 after one quarter and Bursaspor only had a PIR of 1. 

Marko Belinelli made the difference with 7 unanswered points late in the first quarter. Bursaspor did not leave the game and rallied to within 64-59 early in the fourth quarter. In the end, Virtus's hustle and deeper bench paid off. The visitors finished the game with 13 bench points - 10 from John Holland and a triple by Omer Utku Al. Three Virtus bench players - Jakarr Sampson, Belinelli and Kevin Hervey - combined for 27 points. 

The difference in turnovers was not that great, but what they did with them was. Bursaspor finished the game with 14 turnovers and Virtus with 10. However, Bursaspor only had 2 steals and Virtus had 8. The home team turned Bursaspor's 14 turnovers into 24 points and the visitors cashed in only 7 points from Virtus's turnovers. Nine different players combined for 22 Virtus assists led by Alessandro Pajola with 6. No Bursaspor player had more than 3 assists and the team compiled just 11. 

Virtus outrebounded Bursaspor by 44-30, including 17 offensive rebounds. The hosts scored 17 second-chance points, which were 11 more than Bursaspor. The visitors only grabbed 56.4% of the rebounds under their own rim. On the other side of the floor, Virtus pulled down 77.1% of all boards under its basket.

Virtus Segafredo Bologna champ Final Bologna 2022 5- EC21-Final

Teodosic was the man of the moment from right after tip-off, when he fired in his first shot of the night from three-point distance, until Virtus had wrapped its arms around the trophy with an 80-67 victory over visiting Frutti Extra Bursaspor of Turkey.

Teodosic would score 8 of his floor-high 21 points in that first quarter, which Virtus won 25-12, a margin that ended up mirroring the final score. Bursaspor matched the hosts through the final three quarters but could not overcome the hot start of Virtus. Teodosic made sure of that with 8 more points in the third quarter, including a pair of three-pointers in less than a minute that ran the difference to a high of 58-43. When Bursaspor drew within 75-67 with 3 minutes left to play, Teodosic returned to the court to dish his third and last assist and make his fourth two-pointer in as many tries, which proved to be the game's final basket.

Milos Teodosic | Finals MVP | 7DAYS EuroCup

The 35-year-old former Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champion and MVP will now have a chance to return to Europe's premier club competition for the first time since 2017. It will be the first time Virtus plays in the EuroLeague since 2008.

"Last year when we lost the semifinal, that hurt us. And this season, in the beginning, we were struggling with COVID and a lot of injuries. I believe this is the first game in the season that we have everyone healthy," Teodosic said after the victory. "So, we really improved during the season and in the crucial moments of the season we started playing really as a team, defensively and offensively. That Danny \[Hackett\] and Toko \[Shengelia\] came to the team also helped us a lot. So, I am really proud of the last two-and-a-half or three years here. We were improving every year. I believe this is the result of the improvement of the last three years since I came, and I hope that we are going to keep improving."

The EuroCup Finals MVP honor is another in a long list of accolades for Teodosic, most of them in the EuroLeague, where he was a six-time All-EuroLeague selection and named to that competition's All-Decade Team for 2010 to 2020. With Virtus, he has been the EuroCup Regular Season MVP in each of the last two seasons, and in both cases was a member of the All-EuroCup First Team. Last season, he led Virtus to its first Italian League title in 20 years.

The three-year quest for glory of Virtus Segafredo Bologna ended in the ultimate triumph on Wednesday with the leader of that quest, veteran point guard Milos Teodosic, voted by attending media as the MVP of the 7DAYS EuroCup Final before an adoring home crowd in Basket City.

Milos Teodosic voted EuroCup Final MVP!

Virtus became the first Italian team to ever win the competition, lifted its sixth continental trophy and earned the right to play in the 2022-23 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. Virtus finished the season on a seven-game winning streak. Milos Teodosic led the winners with 21 points to earn EuroCup Finals MVP honors. Kyle Weems and Mam Jaiteh each scored 13, Marco Belinelli had 12 and Jakarr Sampson 11 for Virtus. Jaiteh, the EuroCup MVP, added 10 rebounds and Weems blocked 4 shots. David Dudzinski paced Bursaspor with 14 points, Onuralp Bitim scored 12 and Derek Needham and Kevarrius Hayes each had 11 for the visitors.

Virtus is the 7DAYS EuroCup champion!

This is what the protagonists had to say after the Final showdown between Virtus Segafredo Bologna and Frutti Extra Bursaspor.

Final, Post-game quotes: Virtus vs. Bursaspor

### Sergio Scariolo, Virtus Segafredo Bologna head coach

“We are extremely happy. It’s been a great EuroCup. I want to thank first of all the team, organization from Mr. Zanetti to Luca \[Baraldi\] and Paolo \[Ronci\] for allowing me to come here and coach this team. It was not easy to leave the NBA,  but this is a day you might think it was worth it. And thank you for respecting my requirements, my choices about players, my decisions about the roster. I have to tell you that they really tried to do everything and were extremely supportive I am really grateful for this.

“Thank you to the fans for the great atmosphere tonight. We felt their support throughout the whole season, even in the first half when we had so many injuries, crazy one after another. We thought it was a typical unlucky season where you don’t figure it out. But finally, after February, we found some health and then we incorporated a couple of new players who gave us a little more experience and maturity.

“Thank you to the team for letting me coach them. For showing me deep trust for everything I was throwing at them at practice from the very beginning. I felt this trust and I dare to really deep to try to improve and raise the level of our competitiveness. And also thank you for standing through my harsh moments because I know that sometimes I am really tough on players. This probably compensates for everything.

“Thank you to my family. My wife and my daughter here, my mom and sister in Brescia and my son in the US. Thank you to the staff, coaches. Unbelievable job. Conditioning coaches, physical therapists, doctors, managers. Unbelievable job. This cup is theirs and on to the next one.

“Time to enjoy of course. But we feel that we have good chemistry, a good cohesiveness. We have something a little special right here and this doesn’t happen every year. We have to build on that and hopefully, we will.

“Once again congratulations to our opponent, very fierce, very proud. Never gave up. This EuroCup was defined as the best ever. I have not played so many to make my judgment, but for sure the level was very high. Many great teams couldn’t make it and we are humbled to have done it. Once again congrats to our opponent for their unbelievable EuroCup competition as well.”

### Dusan Alimpijevic, Frutti Extra Bursaspor head coach

“Not disappointed. I am very proud I am very happy. I am glad to work with players like this. I am not disappointed. We played good. We fought. It was difficult to play like this without \[a point guard\]. And congrats to coach and their team, organization, GM and everybody in Virtus for a well-deserved EuroCup championship and good luck in the EuroLeague next season. They deserve it.

"For us it was difficult to match up with this team when we have two guys with 2 fouls in the first 3 minutes – it was less than 3 minutes. It was some crucial possessions for us. PG and five guys. You could see how difficult it is to organize when your first PG is out after 2-something minutes. Then it’s not just a problem, it’s also the third and the fourth foul. But it’s our fault because we didn’t adjust to the criteria. Also we let them have 17 or 18 offensive rebounds and we can say we lost this final because of offensive rebounds.”

### Kyle Weems, Virtus Segafredo Bologna forward

“I’m so proud of this team. Man, we went through a lot this year. A lot of injuries, COVID, whatever. We kept fighting, our coaches kept coaching. This is what it’s about. I got my kids, my wife. My family back home is watching. But this is for the city of Bologna!”

### Milos Teodosic, Virtus Segafredo Bologna guard

"Bursaspor is a great team that played with a lot of confidence. We knew that before the game, so we put the effort and energy in from the first second, defensively. I believe that we were controlling the game for almost 40 minutes, and that shows that we really grew as a team."

### Daniel Hackett, Virtus Segafredo Bologna guard

I am very happy. As I said earlier, credit to Bursa for playing an amazing playoffs, an amazing season. They fought hard. They even tonight proved that they battled throughout the game, but we had more. The last three months have been interesting. We came in and we tried to fit into the team. The guys were great, the staff was great to make things work in a quick way. What can I say, this format was cutthroat. One game and you’re out. We really had to stay focused. These guys were excellent. We really switched it on defense and we played a good game.  And man, these fans, amazing. You gotta give credit to these fans because they really pushed us through the roof.”

### Mam Jaiteh, Virtus Segafredo Bologna center

“This is a crazy feeling. It cannot be better than this. I can’t even describe how I feel now. I need to just take a couple of days to realize because now I don’t realize, I’m just so happy, so proud. We went through a lot of ups and downs. I’m just very happy. Look at these guys. An amazing group… We knew that it’s a team, crazy credit to them. It’s a team that has crazy heart. They will never give up, they will never let us win. We just give them as much respect as they deserve because they really deserve a lot. We had some ups and downs in the game, but we always respected them and we knew that until the clock stopped, we couldn’t relax. So we’re very proud. Very happy. I have no words; I’m just truly happy. I hope this feeling lasts forever.“

### Isaia Cordinier, Virtus Segafredo Bologna forward

“It’s incredible, man. First playoff, first win. I feel blessed. Thanks to my teammates, the organization. We finished the job tonight and it’s addictive. I just want more. Defense \[was the key\]. That’s what we worked on the last couple of months. Identity, fight, team spirit and winning plays like Kyle \[Weems\] had 2 amazing blocks to seal the win. That’s winning basketball… We were hungry. The fans, thanks to them. Crazy atmosphere. Love the fans here, love Bologna, love Virtus.”

### JaKarr Sampson, Virtus Segafredo Bologna center

“This is amazing. I feel a little spoiled. Just my first time in Europe and I’m a part of something like this, so it’s amazing to be a part of and I am looking forward to the future. We just jumped on them early and kept the pressure on them. They’re a good team, they were fighting to get here this whole time and we just had to keep our foot on them. We had to keep the pressure on them and we came out with the W. I love Bologna fans. It’s amazing. The energy. We feed off that and it’s contagious.”

### David Dudzinski, Frutti Extra Bursaspor forward

“It’s just one of those games where it’s tough for us to win. We got Derek \[Needham\] with 4 fouls in the first half, Kevarrius \[Hayes\] with 2 fouls in the first 2 minutes. It’s just a tough game. We played our hearts out and congratulations to Bologna. They deserve it… We’re really trying to keep this going. We have a great environment and there’s nothing to hang our heads about. We put ourselves on the map this year and we’re gonna grow from this.”

### John Holland, Frutti Extra Bursaspor forward

“We gave it all. We surprised a lot of people. It’s tough because I feel like we deserved it, but that’s the way the game goes. Congratulations to Virtus. They’re a great team. I’m okay with it because that’s the way the game goes. We played as hard as we could and we didn’t win.”

Sergio Scariolo - Virtus Segafredo Bologna - Final Bologna 2022 - EC21-Final

Euroleague Basketball is pleased to announce that center Mam Jaiteh of Virtus Segafedo Bologna has been voted as the 7DAYS EuroCup MVP for the 2021-22 season. 

7DAYS EuroCup MVP: Mam Jaiteh, Virtus Segafedo Bologna

Jaiteh has dominated the paint for the EuroCup finalists and came through in the playoffs when his team needed him most. Jaiteh averaged 12.8 points on 71.1% two-point shooting plus 7.5 rebounds for a fifth-ranked performance index rating of 18.1 over 22 minutes per game in 20 appearances this season, his first with the club. He is Virtus's top scorer and rebounder, while his two-point shooting and rebounding rank fourth among all EuroCup players this season. He leads the competition in PIR on a per-minute basis, averaging 32.9 prorated over 40 minutes.

Fans, media, head coaches and team captains all took part in the All-EuroCup team voting from which the MVP was chosen. Jaiteh is both the first French player and the first player for an Italian team to win the EuroCup MVP award.

2021-22 7DAYS EuroCup MVP: Mam Jaiteh, Virtus Segafredo Bologna

Jaiteh started the season with a bang by scoring 20 points on 8-for-10 two-point shooting in an 87-76 victory over ratiopharm Ulm in Round 2. He struggled a bit in the next few weeks as Virtus dropped back-to-back games, but when Jaiteh hit his groove, the team became tough to stop. Virtus went 5-0 this season when he scored at least 20 points. His best game of the season came in Round 14 when he posted one of his four double-doubles, 24 points and 12 rebounds against Umana Reyer Venice. Jaiteh made 9 of 11 two-point shots that night in compiling a PIR of 41 to earn the MVP of the Round honor. 

When the playoffs began, Jaiteh was ready for the bright lights. He made 9 of 10 shots for 20 points and a PIR of 18 in an eighthfinals victory over Lietkabelis Panevezys. Next, he exploded for 27 points on 12-for-16 shooting and 11 rebounds in recording a PIR of 38 to beat Ulm in the quarterfinals. It was the highest PIR in a quarterfinals game since 2014 and gave him two of the 10 highest single-game index ratings in the EuroCup this season, Jaiteh's fifth in the EuroCup. 

A product of the youth training system at France's National Institute of Sport, Jaiteh began to play professionally with SO Maritime Boulogne before joining JSF Nanterre for the 2013-14 season. It was there that Jaiteh made his debuts in both the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and the EuroCup. He also collected his first trophies, helping the team win the 2014 French Cup and both the French Semain d'As and the FIBA EuroChallenge. 

After three seasons with Nanterre, one with Strasbourg, and a season and a half with Limoges, Jaiteh left France for the first time to play for Turin in Italy in 2018. He has since suited up for Avtodor Saratov in Russia and Gaziantep in Turkey before joining Virtus over the summer. Jaiteh has also played for the French national team, which he helped to the bronze medal at EuroBasket 2015. 

Jaiteh will be front and center when Virtus hosts Frutti Extra Bursaspor on Wednesday, May 11, in the EuroCup Final, with the winner of that do-or-die game earning a place in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague next season.

Mam Jaiteh - Virtus Segafredo Bologna - EC21

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