LIVE BLOG: The continental finals are back in Bologna!

### The 7DAYS EuroCup Final is around the corner!

We are minutes away from tip-off here at Virtus Segafredo Bologna! The two finalists followed different paths, full of adversity, to get here. Virtus lost two players, Ekpe Udoh and Awudu Abass, before the season even started. A series of injuries slowed the team down, but Coach Sergio Scariolo's team got healthy and the right time and added two elite players, Toko Shengelia and Daniel Hackett, right before the transfer deadline.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/7DAYSEuroCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#7DAYSEuroCup</a> Final!<br><br>We have been waiting for this moment🔥 <a href="https://twitter.com/Virtusbo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Virtusbo</a> vs <a href="https://twitter.com/BsBasketbol?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BsBasketbol</a> for the🏆<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoadToGreatness?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoadToGreatness</a> <a href="https://t.co/T1KVuGjKGc">pic.twitter.com/T1KVuGjKGc</a></p>&mdash; 7DAYS EuroCup (@EuroCup) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup/status/1524414039715155968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Frutti Extra Bursaspor lost four players - three departures and an injury to Tolga Gecim, and only added one player, John Holland, who has proven to be the perfect fit. He has been the team's vocal leader and given Bursaspor a spark, allowing him to reach the EuroCup Finals for the second consecutive season. It is not something you see often. In fact, only one player, Edu Hernandez-Sonseca, played consecutive EuroCup Finals before Holland. Coach Dusan Alimpijevic had to redistribute the team's roles, giving Andrew Andrews and Onuralp Bitim more responsibility. Both players responded effectively and Bursaspor became the road warrior in these playoffs.

 

Don't miss the pre-game show because Virtus fans are preparing something special: a giant poster will drop from the top of the stands to salute the team in one of the most important games in club history. It is the first sellout crowd ever in this arena and around 250 Bursaspor fans are expected to support their team, too.

 

It is time to enjoy what promises to be one of the best games of the season. Have fun!

### Like father, like son 

Virtus Segafredo Bologna has a generational opportunity to win the 7DAYS EuroCup title. And speaking of generations, two of its players have the chance to follow their fathers' footsteps and win a continental title if Virtus beats visiting Frutti Extra Bursaspor on Wednesday night. 

Amar Aligebovic is in his second season with Virtus. His father, Teo Alibegovic, had a long basketball career that took him to the United States, Italy, Germany, Spain and Greece. He led ALBA Berlin to the 1994-95 Korac title, the first trophy for any German team in European competitions. Alibegovic averaged 22.7 points and 5.6 rebounds in 16 games that season and led ALBA to the trophy in the second leg of the two-way finals. After an 87-87 tie against Olimpia Milan in the first game, Alibegovic had 34 points on 11-for-14 two-point and 3-for-3 three-point shooting plus 11 rebounds to lead ALBA past Milan 85-79 in the finale to win the title. 

"He always tries to mentor me and, of course, he doesn't put any pressure on me. He always keeps it real: if I didn't play good, he tells me. But if I did, he also tells me. He is always able to look at the situation like he was a third party," Amar Alibegovic said about his father. "Having my dad always close to me and him practically playing the same position I do, it really helped me a lot. He taught me a lot of things that I know now, and I definitely wouldn't be here without his teaching."

Alibegovic is not the only Virtus player with a successful father in European competitions. Nico Mannion definitely belongs to that group. 

Mannion's father is Pace Mannion, who played professional basketball for the better part of two decades before retiring in 2002. Mannion spent most of his career in Italy and played for Pallacanestro Cantu for four seasons, scoring 3,011 points in 139 Italian League games (21.7 ppg.). He helped Cantu win the 1990-91 Korac Cup title by playing a stellar role in the two-way finals against Real Madrid. Mannion scored 33 points while hitting 6 of 10 three-pointers to lead Cantu to a 77-79 road victory in the first leg. At home in Cantu, Mannion did even better, firing in 8 of 11 three-pointers for 35 points in his team's 95-93 overtime second-leg victory for the title. 

Nicolo Mannion and Amar Alibegovic are now ready to become second-generation continental winners. After all, basketball is in their genes. 

### Basket City awaits a champion!

The day has finally arrived! Virtus Segafredo Bologna and Frutti Extra Bursaspor are meeting each other in the 7DAYS EuroCup Final on Wednesday evening, and you can feel the excitement in Basket City. Virtus can become Italy's first EuroCup champion and thereby earn its return to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague for the first time since 2008. The game is already sold out.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="it" dir="ltr">A domani. ONE MORE 🤍🖤<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/nJrISPrfeT">pic.twitter.com/nJrISPrfeT</a></p>&mdash; Virtus Segafredo Bologna (@Virtusbo) <a href="https://twitter.com/Virtusbo/status/1524105057565908999?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 10, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Meanwhile, Bursaspor team manager Cem Civan confirms that there will be 20 giant screens in different areas in Bursa for fans of tonight's visiting team to watch the game together. Bursaspor has become a phenomenon in its home city and among Turkish basketball fans in general. Back in 2016, Bursaspor was in the Turkish third division and didn't reach the first until 2019. But in just two years, Bursaspor has made it to the 7DAYS EuroCup Final and the Turkish League playoffs. Civan can also make history in his own way: if Bursaspor wins, he would be the first team manager to win the EuroCup with different teams, as he helped Galatasaray Istanbul lift the trophy in 2016.

Back to Virtus, everything seems to be in place before the big game. Mam Jaiteh was all smiles after being named the competition's MVP on Monday, and the general vibe among his teammates was really positive. Virtus has also clinched first place in the Italian League regular season for the first time in 21 years. Since mid-March, the club has won 15 of its last 16 official games.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Eyes on the prize 👀💯<a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroCup</a> <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/jS56A4pJqX">pic.twitter.com/jS56A4pJqX</a></p>&mdash; Virtus Segafredo Bologna (@Virtusbo) <a href="https://twitter.com/Virtusbo/status/1523999569935314945?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 10, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

It is also a comeback of sorts for the "Vu Nere" – the club's nickname due to the black V in its logo. When current owner Massimo Zanetti arrived to the team in 2016, Virtus was in the Italian second division. Six years later, the team is the reigning Italian League champion and sits one win away from lifting the EuroCup trophy.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">📷𝐌𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐀 𝐃𝐀𝐘🎥<br><br>Final maçının hazırlıklarını tamamlayan takımımız antrenmanın sonunda basın mensuplarıyla bir araya geldi📸 <a href="https://t.co/HOIVoK0ftS">pic.twitter.com/HOIVoK0ftS</a></p>&mdash; Frutti Extra Bursaspor (@BsBasketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/BsBasketbol/status/1524111901415907330?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 10, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

It is one of the biggest games of the season by any measure! So, even if you cannot watch it live at Virtus Segafredo Arena or on the streets of Bursa, make sure you tune in and enjoy what promises a hard-fought battle to win the 7DAYS EuroCup and earn the right to play in the 2022-23 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague!

### Bursaspor is ready, too!

The stage is set for the 7DAYS EuroCup Final after Frutti Extra Bursaspor practiced on Tuesday evening, 24 hours before tipoff. The visitors came with an entourage of sponsors, executives and Turkish media, which gives you a feeling of how important this game is not just for the club, but for Turkish basketball. They all took a family picture along with the players and club's staff at center court to remember the historical moment.

Of course, everyone keeps talking about Bursaspor's new nickname, The Pitbulls, which helped the team play with the right mentality. John Holland put the words out there in what already has become an iconic halftime interview during the quarterfinals, and the whole team followed.

We talked to Dave Dudzinski, who was all smiles after practice. He has some reasons to be happy. Dudzinski played a major role in Bursaspor's amazing run, and he recently re-signed his contract for two more years. He confirms that the buzz about "The Pitbulls" is real and Bursaspor wants to show it in the final.

Andrew Andrews - Frutti Extra Bursaspor

Players Frutti Extra Bursaspor

Mithat Can Ozalp - Frutti Extra Bursaspor 

Frutti Extra Bursaspor

Kevarrius Hayes - Frutti Extra Bursaspor

Tarik Sezgun - Frutti Extra Bursaspor

Dusan Alimpijevic - Frutti Extra Bursaspor

John Holland - Frutti Extra Bursaspor

David Dudzinski - Frutti Extra Bursaspor

Frutti Extra Bursaspor practices

"We talk about it, and it is something we identify with. For sure, John \[Holland\] is kind of the microphone of the team. He is saying what the mood of the team is right now," he told us. "We really feel like underdogs, pitbulls. We are ready to fight against anyone in every moment."

Bursaspor knows that a whole city will be pushing for them, and its sellout crowds in recent home games prove it.

"It's insane," Dudzinski said. "The energy that we have in the city right now is really something special. It is something that maybe a lot of players never get to experience in their careers. I am really thankful to the fans in Bursa and the city of Bursa. We are trying to get this one for them. There will be big screens in the city showing the game, and there will be a lot of people there. We hope we can put on a show for them."

### Virtus is prepped for the battle!

Virtus Segafredo Bologna was the first team to practice the day before the EuroCup Final. Several players – Kyle Weems, Daniel Hackett and especially Toko Shengelia – stayed on the court longer to put up some extra shots up before the big game against Frutti Extra Bursaspor on Wednesday night.

Shengelia has a golden chance to win a second EuroCup title 12 years after his first one with Valencia Basket in 2010. No player has gone so long between titles. Simas Jasaitis is the longest until now, eight years between winning with Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius in 2005 and Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar in 2013.

Tornike Shengelia - Virtus Segafredo Bologna 

Amedeo Tessitori - Virtus Segafredo Bologna

Sergio Scariolo - Virtus Segafredo Bologna 

Daniel Hackett - Virtus Segafredo Bologna

Niccolo Mannion - Virtus Segafredo Bologna

 Virtus Segafredo Bologna

Jakarr Sampson - Virtus Segafredo Bologna

Amar Alibegovic - Virtus Segafredo Bologna

Isaia Cordinier - Virtus Segafredo Bologna

Virtus Segafredo Bologna practices

Incidentally, that final between Lokomotiv and Bilbao Basket in 2013 was the last single-game final in EuroCup history until this one. The format returns after nine years. There were two-way series to the title from 2014 to 2016, then best-of-three finals to decide a champion from 2017 to 2021.

During the media availability for Virtus, when asked about his All-EuroCup First Team guard and team leader Milos Teodosic, head coach Sergio Scariolo had a funny comment.

"If I could think that Milos wouldn't be ready, I better not go to the game!" he laughed. "Milos will be ready, and we know the opponent will try to do their best, legally of course, to slow him down... but he is used to it."

### Bologna welcomes another European final!

The game 20 teams dreamed of playing in will tip off at 20:30 CET on Wednesday with Virtus Segafredo Bologna and Frutti Extra Bursaspor battling for glory. Bologna has already witnessed Virtus reaching the peak of European basketball, but also the biggest disappointment a team can have at the highest level.

Bologna was home to the 1966 EuroLeague Championship Game. The semifinals and finals were played in a Final Four format in Bologna and Milan. Simmenthal Olimpia Milan played both of its games in Bologna, including a 77-72 victory over Slavia Prague 77-72 in the championship game.

More than 35 years later, another EuroLeague final was played in Bologna, this time in a best-of-five playoff format. Virtus, then known as Kinder Bologna, faced Tau Ceramica Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz. After the teams split the first four games, Bologna was the site for Game 5 and saw Virtus prevail 82-74. Antoine Rigaudeau led the way with 18 points and Manu Ginobili and Marko Jaric each added 16 to get the party started in Bologna.

A year later, the 2002 EuroLeague Final Four took place in Bologna. Kinder and Panathinaikos Athens survived their respective semifinal showdowns and Virtus fans were eager to celebrate back-to-back EuroLeague titles, but the Greens rallied from a 14-point deficit to register an 83-89 win and claim the EuroLeague crown. Ibrahim Kutluay led Panathinaikos with 22 points and Dejan Bodiroga added 21 and earned the 2002 Final Four MVP honor.

Bologna is a city rich in basketball history and another chapter on the topic will be written this week as Virtus and Bursaspor give their all to finish on top. Stay tuned for exclusive content as we prepare for a champion's coronation!

Well, 7DAYS EuroCup fans, the time to crown a champion is here. Welcome to the EuroCup Final Live Blog where our man in Bologna, Javier Gancedo, will take you behind the scenes at Virtus Segafredo Arena in Basket City.

LIVE BLOG: The 7DAYS EuroCup Final is around the corner!

Tornike Shengelia - Virtus Segafredo Bologna - Final prectices in Bologna - EC21

Amedeo Tessitori - Virtus Segafredo Bologna - Final prectices in Bologna - EC21

Sergio Scariolo - Virtus Segafredo Bologna - Final prectices in Bologna - EC21

Daniel Hackett - Virtus Segafredo Bologna - Final prectices in Bologna - EC21

Niccolo Mannion - Virtus Segafredo Bologna - Final prectices in Bologna - EC21

Virtus Segafredo Bologna - Final prectices in Bologna - EC21

Jakarr Sampson - Virtus Segafredo Bologna - Final prectices in Bologna - EC21

Amar Alibegovic - Virtus Segafredo Bologna - Final prectices in Bologna - EC21

Isaia Cordinier - Virtus Segafredo Bologna - Final prectices in Bologna - EC21

Sergio Scariolo 2- Virtus Segafredo Bologna - Final prectices in Bologna - EC21

Daniel Hackett 2- Virtus Segafredo Bologna - Final prectices in Bologna - EC21

Players Frutti Extra Bursaspor 2- Final practices in Bologna - EC21

Andrew Andrews - Frutti Extra Bursaspor - Final practices in Bologna - EC21

Mithat Can Ozalp - Frutti Extra Bursaspor - Final practices in Bologna - EC21

Frutti Extra Bursaspor - Final practices in Bologna - EC21

Kevarrius Hayes - Frutti Extra Bursaspor - Final practices in Bologna - EC21

Tarik Sezgun - Frutti Extra Bursaspor - Final practices in Bologna - EC21

Dusan Alimpijevic - Frutti Extra Bursaspor - Final practices in Bologna - EC21

John Holland - Frutti Extra Bursaspor - Final practices in Bologna - EC21

Players Frutti Extra Bursaspor - Final practices in Bologna - EC21

David Dudzinski - Frutti Extra Bursaspor - Final practices in Bologna - EC21

Dusan Alimpijevic 2- Frutti Extra Bursaspor - Final practices in Bologna - EC21

Here are some interesting facts about one of the 7DAYS EuroCup finalists, Frutti Extra Bursaspor.

Frutti Extra Bursaspor: Did you know...?

...Frutti Extra Bursaspor is in its first 7DAYS EuroCup Final! It is just its second season in the competition. 

...Frutti Extra Bursaspor can become the third Turkish team to win the 7DAYS EuroCup? Galatasaray Istanbul was the first Turkish team to win the EuroCup in 2016, and Darussafaka Istanbul lifted the trophy in 2018. 

...Frutti Extra Bursaspor was founded in 2014? It took the team eight years to go from the Turkish third division to the 7DAYS EuroCup Final! 

...Dusan Alimpijevic can become the second Serbian coach to win the EuroCup title? Dusan Ivkovic, who led Dynamo Moscow to the 2007 title, was the first Serbian coach to win it. 

...Andrew Andrews averaged 4.1 points and a PIR of 3.6 in his first games of the season? Andrews went on to average 22.0 points and a PIR of 23.8 in the next 11 games, leading Bursaspor to the final! 

...John Holland is the second player in 7DAYs EuroCup Finals history to reach the final in back-to-back seasons. Edu Hernandez-Sonseca was the only player until now, winning the competition with Real Madrid in 2007 and Joventut Badalona in 2008. 

...Tolga Gecim can list a exclusive list of players who won the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and 7DAYS EuroCup titles? Gecim, currently injured, helped Anadolu Efes Istanbul win the EuroLeague crown in 2021, and is with Bursaspor now! Only 17 players won both competitions, including stars like Nando De Colo, Ricky Rubio, Rudy Fernandez and Dejan Tomasevic. 

...Derek Needham ranks 10th in assists (4.9 apg.), seventh in steals (1.4 spg.) and eighth in three-point shooting (49.1%)? He is the only player to rank Top 10 in all three stats categories this season. 

...Kevarrius Hayes ranks eighth in rebounds (6.9 rpg.), fourth in blocks (1.1 bpg.) and also fourth in stals (1.5 spg.)? Only one other player ranked Top 10 in all three stats categories - Vince Hunter of Boulogne Metropolitans 92.  

...David Dudzinski is one of two members of the 60-40-80 club this season? Dudzinski hit 61.1% of its two-pointers, 43.5% from downtown and 82.6% of his free throw attempts. Pierre Pelos of Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse (60.0% 2FG, 46.3% 3FG, 91.3% FT) is the other player with such accuracy. 

...Frutti Extra Bursaspor has scored at least 85 points in each of its last six games? Coach Alimpijevic's team is 7-1 in its last eight EuroCup games.


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

Here are some interesting facts about one of the 7DAYS EuroCup finalists, Virtus Segafredo Bologna.

Virtus Segafredo Bologna: Did you know...?

...Virtus Segafredo Bologna is in its first 7DAYS EuroCup final! It is also the first Italian team to reach this far in the competition. 

...Virtus has a chance to win a fifth different continental title? Virtus won the Saporta Cup title in 1990, lifted the EuroLeague trophy twice in 1998 and 2001, claimed the EuroChallenge crown in 2009 and the BCL in 2019. 

...Virtus has made it to its 11th continental final? Added to the five titles it won, it lost three EuroLeague finals (Maccabi Tel Aviv 1981, Zalgiris Kaunas 1999, Panathinaikos Athens 2002), and two Saporta Cup championship games (Pallacanestro Cantu 1978, AEK 2000). 

...Milos Teodosic and Daniel Hackett can join an exclusive group of players that won the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and 7DAYS EuroCup titles? Teodosic won the EuroLeague title with CSKA Moscow in 2016. Hackett lifted the trophy also with CSKA in 2019. Only 17 players won both competitions, including stars like Nando De Colo, Ricky Rubio, Rudy Fernandez and Dejan Tomasevic. 

...Teodosic dishes 13.9 assists per 40 minutes? It is the highest number for any player ever with at least 10 games in a season. He leads the 2021-22 EuroCup assists table at 8.5 per night.

...Toko Shengelia has a chance to win his second 7DAYS EuroCup title? Shengelia lifted the trophy with Valencia Basket in 2010. He would be the 20th player to win at least two EuroCup titles. Rafa Martinez is the only player to lift the trophy three times, with Valencia in 2010, 2014 and 2019. 

...If Virtus wins, Shengelia's 12-year gap between EuroCup titles is also an all-time record. Simas Jasaitis (Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius 2005, Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar 2013) had to wait for eight years to win a second EuroCup crown. 

...Kyle Weems made it to his second 7DAYS EuroCup Final? He previously reached this stage with Strasbourg in 2016, losing against Galatasaray Istanbul. 

...Marco Belinelli can become the third player to win the NBA and the 7DAYS EuroCup titles? Fabricio Oberto (Valencia 2003, San Antonio 2007) and Brian Cardinal (Valencia 2003, Dallas 2011) are the only player to win both crowns. 

...Niccolo Mannion's father, Pace Mannion, won a European club competition? He led Pallacanestro Cantu to win the 1990-91 Korac Cup. 

...Amar Alibegovic's father, Teo Alibegovic, won a European club competition, too? He helped ALBA Berlin win the 1994-95 Korac Cup. 

...head coach Sergio Scariolo is in his second 7DAYS EuroCup final? Coach Scariolo previously reached this stage with Khimki Moscow Region in 2009, losing against Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius? 

...Scariolo can be the second coach to win the EuroBasket, World Cup and EuroCup titles? Scariolo won three EuroBasket (2009, 2011, 2015) and a World Cup gold medal (2019). The late Dusan Ivkovic won the World Cup (1990) and the EuroBasket titles (1989, 1991, 1995) with former Yugoslavia, and lifted the EuroCup trophy with Dynamo Moscow in 2007.

Virtus Segafredo Bologna - Final practices in Bologna - EC21

### Virtus Segafredo Bologna head coach Sergio Scariolo:

"We have to be ready. Players with more experience have to go through this but at the end of the day, it is an opportunity. And opportunities are always a great chance - we made it to the final of a great EuroCup already, and we have to try to take the last step. We worked hard during the season and I am very pleased with that. The work we did during those months was useful, we found some health and incorporated a couple of new players. Once again, I don't like to talk too much about the opponent. I respect them a lot. I respect their coach, their system and their players. They have great shooters and a lot of offensive potential - and they can play defense, too. They have shown that they are able to play on the road as well as at home. It is a great opponent."

### Virtus Segafredo Bologna forward Kyle Weems:

"It's been a long time coming. I have been in this competition for a long time, and this is fourth year in a row, going back to Tofas. So to be back at the highest level of this competition is something that I don't take for granted. I am just ready to give anything I have. Bursaspor is very talented and plays really hard. They are well-coached, obviously, they have the Coach of the Year, and they just have a lot of good, selfless players. They play together, share the ball but also have guys ready to perform in big moments. We know them, they know us, we played them two times in the regular season, and both times were pretty close. I think it is going to be a good game. Focus and defense will be the keys. When we are locked in defensively, I think we are one of the best teams in Europe, that is just my opinion. And now, with the additions of Dani HJackett and Toko Shengelia, I think our defense has stepped up and is kind of allowed everyone to step up a little bit. As long as we focus on defense, I think we will be OK."

### Virtus Segafredo Bologna guard Daniel Hackett:

"I am very excited to play in the final. Obviously, we are playing for a trophy, which is what we want to do as a club, as a team, give ourselves a chance to fight for 40 minutes and to be here, and try to do the job. We have a tough opponent in front of us, Bursaspor has proved to be very strong on the road, and a very talented team. It will definitely be a battle tomorrow. Executing and small details will be very important. Our demeanot, how we get in the game and for sure, following the game plan. At the end of the day, it is basketball. We have to rely on our experience, on our talent, on the good and positive things that we can bring on the floor. This is what we need to rely on."

EuroCup Final pre-game quotes: Virtus vs. Bursaspor

Sergio Scariolo - Virtus Segafredo Bologna - Final practices in Bologna - EC21

Virtus Segafredo Bologna center Mam Jaiteh is this season's 7DAYS EuroCup MVP, but before he reflects on his breakout season, the big man has another job to do. 

Mam Jaiteh, Virtus: 'We need to go and get it'

Jaiteh leads the competition in PIR per 40 minutes (32.9), ranks fourth in rebounds (7.6 rpg.) and fifth in both two-point shooting (71.1%) and average PIR (18.1). However, the only numbers that matter to him now are the final score in the championship game against Frutti Extra Bursaspor on Wednesday. Like Virtus, the game will be his first final and Jaiteh said he believes it is a chance to achieve the goal his team set right at the beginning of the season. "From the day I signed with Virtus, the first talk with the coaches and the staff was that we needed to get the EuroCup and go to the EuroLeague. So we can reach our number one priority, the number one goal," Jaiteh said after his team's semifinals win against Valencia Basket. "We have to focus on who we are going to be playing against and how we are going to try to beat them." 

**Hello, Mam. Congratulations on a historic win for Virtus. You held Valencia to just 73 points at La Fonteta. Was your defense the key to making it to the final?** 

"Yeah, for sure. Defense was a big key for us. We played against them three times and I think our coaching staff did a very good job of knowing how to attack them, how to use our defense as the big key to just stop them. They have a lot of talent and we are very proud of what we have done as a team."

**Virtus lost in the 7DAYS EuroCup Semifinals last season. How important is it to take this step forward and challenge for the title?** 

"Virtus Bologna is a very ambitious and very hungry team. We are very proud and happy with this win tonight, but we still haven't reached our goal. So we are going to celebrate tonight, but we're going to be focused on next week because this is our ultimate goal. We need to go and get it."

"I'm coming from the bottom. I can say that every year for me was a step forward."

**You are playing some of the best basketball of your career. How great is it to be playing at this level after so many years in basketball?** 

"I am very proud. I think I was always working very hard, always trying to get better at what I can do and be more efficient for my team. And I think I am playing this way because I am trying to have fun, understand all my teammates and help my team as much as I can. So like I said, I'm very proud. I need to keep getting better and keep helping my team as much as I can." 

**Virtus is the best team you have played for. Do you think that having better teammates has also helped you to play better this season?** 

"Before I even talk about my teammates, these are very great men, with great character and great behavior. So playing in such a great atmosphere... there is nothing more I could ask for. It is very competitive but also very healthy, I can say. So for me, I am just coming there every day, working hard and like I said, helping everyone as much as I can and playing as efficiently as I can."

**For a center, playing with Milos Teodosic must be a great experience. Have you gotten used to his passing and ready to get the ball at any time?** 

"We never get used to playing with Milos Teodosic! There is always something new coming from his pocket! But I can say that I am always trying to be ready, basically. I am trying to always be in the right position, always having my eyes and my hands ready. It is all about being smart and playing the right way and then it becomes automatic. He has helped me a lot." 

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

**Ekpe Udoh was expected to be the team's starting center, but was injured in the preseason and you stepped up to lead the frontcourt. How difficult was that?** 

"He is having a big career and I am pretty sure he is going to come back ready. For me, it was more that every year, I am getting better and what I had inside of me, I was able to show it more. I am just happy to help the team with what I can do and be a plus for this team." 

**You will play against Frutti Extra Bursaspor in the final. You faced each other twice this season. What is the best thing about Bursaspor? What do you think put them where they are right now?** 

"I think Bursaspor is a team that has a big character. They are very solid. What they have done, for me, is history already, and I think they really deserve to be there. Nobody was expecting them to be there, but nobody gave them anything. They went out and got it and that is a big, big plus for them. They are going to come to our gym with nothing to lose. They have so much confidence, too. So it is going to be a very, very difficult game. We expect a very strong game because they have players who are big competitors, but also very strong. We need to just be even more ready because it can be a trap." 

**Bursaspor takes a lot of pride in their aggressiveness, calling themselves "The Pitbulls". How critical is it to match this aggressiveness in this game?** 

"Yes. I think John Holland is one of their key pieces to add, he was the perfect guy for them because of what he brings to the team. Of course, I think that at the same time we stepped up defensively during the season. We need to just confirm this and try to diminish the impact of their main players as much as we can and win as a team because I think that's a team that we all need to contribute to try to diminish their impact. And after this, we need to play our offense."

"We don't have to look at the names in their team, but at what they have done so far." 

**You started your career in the French second division and worked really hard to get this opportunity. Does it taste sweeter, knowing that you came from the bottom to earn this chance to win the EuroCup?** 

"Yes, like you said, I'm coming from the bottom. I can say that every year for me was a step forward and I always had to prove that I belonged to this level. Like, every year I was in a situation in which no one knew much about me and I have to prove myself, prove, prove, prove, and this year was the same. So I think that for me, this is like a reward for all these years. I am very proud, but I keep humble and I just try to keep working hard because I want to reach an even higher level and be way better than I am now." 

**Finally, what would it mean for you and Virtus to not just win the EuroCup, but to make it to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague next season?** 

"It would mean a lot because this is the number one goal of the team. From the day I signed with Virtus, the first talk with the coaches and the staff was that we needed to get the EuroCup and go to the EuroLeague. So we can reach our number one priority, the number one goal. And being part is this is... I cannot even describe how proud and how big it is. So we will try to focus on how we should beat this big opponent. We don't have to look at the names on their team, but at what they have done so far. It is going to be a big, big game and, like I said, winning the EuroCup is our number one priority. We have to focus on who we are going to be playing against and how we are going to try to beat them."

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

Kevarrius Hayes was chosen as the 7DAYS EuroCup Semifinals MVP after leading Frutti Extra Bursaspor over MoraBanc Andorra 68-85 for its third consecutive road win in this season's playoffs. Hayes was a monster inside and posted 11 points and 16 rebounds for a PIR of 27 in that game.  In his first season in the competition, Hayes has averaged 8.9 points and 6.9 rebounds for a PIR of 13.2 in 21 games. He is one of only two players to rank among the top 10 in rebounds, steals (1.5 spg.) and blocks (1.1 bpg.) this season. Hayes has embraced teammate John Holland's words from a halftime interview during their team's quarterfinals game against Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana, which earned Bursaspor the nickname "The Pitbulls". "It was a spontaneous moment that really just turned into a thing for us," Hayes said. "I would say he's kind of put a role to us about being the underdogs because that's kind of like what we were."

Kevarrius Hayes, Bursaspor: 'We may end up burning down Bursa!'

**Hello, Kevarrius. Congratulations on making it to the 7DAYS EuroCup Final. Three road wins took you to this stage. How does the team feel about its achievements?**

"Thank you. We feel good we've made it this far. We came prepared. I think we are really in a good groove right now to be exactly where we're at. We had to come out strong. I feel like we have been incredibly focused. Everybody is on the same page so we were able to prioritize defense. Everybody helps out each other, is there on rotations and then we know we will score on offense. We just try to put effort where we can on defense."

**How much credit does Coach Alimpijevic deserve for turning the team around the way he did in the second half of the season?** 

"I give him a lot of credit. It wasn't like one decision decided how the rest of the season went. It is kind of like we kept at it and he's always stayed on his mark, just giving us all the information we needed in order to play the best games we can and just keep it going from there."

"Nobody really thought we'd make it here. And then we had to show our best effort and prove that we are definitely a team that's worthy of being in the position that we are in."

**You will play against Virtus Segafredo Bologna in the final, a very talented team. How important is it to worry about what you can do first, and how to keep playing so well?** 

"I have to say we have already played them twice, so it's going to come down to focusing on the mistakes that we made in our previous matchups and just trying to capitalize on things that we can do better, especially at this point when everything's on the line, it's where it really matters most. They have some different players now and we have to be prepared for that, see their style of play and how they work together. But I think the main point was just try to focus more on our game rather than defending them or attacking them on defense."

**Andrew Andrews scored 37 points in your second game against Virtus. It was one of many great performances he had in the second half of the season. Did you see that coming?** 

"It is a testament to like the daily work he puts in. You always see him in the gym, before practice, getting up some extra shots. When you put in that type of work, that type of effort, you are bound to see some results. Right now, we are just in a good stretch. He makes it a point to let us all know that, you know, first of all, it's basketball, just play the game. And if you're hoping to shoot your shot, he really gives us that free will, that confidence to just play the game that we know how." 

**The new format, with do-or-die games since the eighthfinals, has been exciting. How much are you enjoying it?** 

"I love it. It feels natural. I went to the NCAA tournament three times. So I was there quite a few times and in a single-elimination, it just depends on who decides to show up that night. I feel like the biggest difference would be like the experience that you are around. The players have been here for many, many years but most people that were there, they were in the first or second time in that type of environment. So with a certain little experience, you just got to find out where you fit in within your team and where to help them succeed." 

**We have to ask about John Holland's viral halftime interview in the quarterfinals against Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana. Is the team joking about it, as everyone in European basketball is?** 

"Oh yeah, we definitely talk about it from time to time. It was a spontaneous moment that really just turned into a thing for us. A lot of people have asked me, like: 'do you know what this guy's got? He's crazy, he's nuts.' But he's really just your average kind of guy. You come across, see his great energy, and it's just when you get down into the interviews, you have the energy and that type of momentum going, and you never know what you might say."

**You also roared in front of the camera, after beating MoraBanc Andorra in the semifinals. It looks like everybody loves it around the team.** 

"Like I said, you just don't really know where it comes from. He just did in that interview, just had the adrenalin flowing and it's like, really? I would say he's kind of put a role to us about being the underdogs because that's kind of like what we were. Nobody really thought we'd make it here. And then we had to show our best effort and prove that we are definitely a team that's worthy of being in the position that we are in."

"It's historic, you know, and what better place to be than being a part of history?"

**The text in your Instagram account says "born and raised on the court, I love basketball, I don't know where I would be without it". How much does basketball mean to you?** 

"That's what's pretty much just been my entire life; my whole family plays basketball - my mom, uncles, cousins, they all play and I just became a part of it, another member in a long line of ballers. I'm proud to be here. I love to play the game. And I would say I don't know where I'd be without it because it's really the reason why I went to college. It helped put me through college and as a D1 \[Division One\] athlete, it helped me be in a position where I can play the game that I love and travel the world all at the same time." 

**What would it mean for you personally and for Bursaspor, who was in the second division of Turkey two years ago, to win the EuroCup and go to the EuroLeague?** 

"It is surreal. Having the chance to help a team get to the EuroLeague is crazy in my world of thinking. And to just think that this is my first time being in the EuroCup and we are already in the finals. It's historic, you know, and what better place to be than being a part of history?"

**If you win the EuroCup, knowing the kind of fans you have, how much roaring can we expect in Bursa?** 

"We may end up burning down Bursa! We just try to focus on like one game at a time, but it's hard not to imagine the possibilities and just everything that's going to come afterward. We have the craziest fans, I would say, one of the most energetic people I have been around. Just in my short tenure and in every game, they always come out cheering from tip-off all the way to the end of the game. And it's never-ending, non-stop, and you just love it. It's hard not to love that type of environment where people just really want to be here, to really show their love. We just appreciate that because having good fans like that makes the game that much more enjoyable."

Kevarrius Hayes - Frutti Extra Bursaspor (photo Larry Langer - Ulm) - EC21-RS17

Bursaspor ranked seventh at the end of the regular season and has taken down Partizan NIS Belgrade, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana and MoraBanc Andorra to reach the EuroCup Final. It won all three games on the road, needing overtime to beat Partizan in front of 19,000 fans at Stark Arena, surviving a thriller against Cedevita in a fully-packed Arena Stozice, and thrashing Andorra in front of a sellout crowd. As such, Bursaspor has earned the chance to become the third team to win the competition without any home-court advantage when it takes visits Virtus Segafredo Bologna on Wednesday.

Valencia Basket was the first team to make it through the EuroCup Playoffs entirely on the road back in the 2013-14 season. Valencia struggled to qualify, ranking second in its Last 32 group with a 3-3 record. The road to the title featured four home-and-away series, with Valencia playing Game 1 at home in each and the higher-placed team enjoying the advantage of playing Game 2 on the road. Valencia, coached by Velimir Perasovic, managed to navigate the entire playoffs safely, winning all four home games by a solid margin and keeping its lead or sweeping on the road. 

In the eighthfinals against Khimki Moscow Region, Valencia registered a 75-59 home win in the first leg and just managed to survive despite losing the second leg 97-82 to win the series with an aggregate score of 157-156 on a late jumper by Pau Ribas. Once in the quarterfinals against ALBA Berlin, Valencia thrashed ALBA Berlin 86-54 at La Fonteta behind 33 points from Justin Doellman, turning the second leg into a mere procedure. Valencia went on to sweep the semifinals against Nizhny Novgorod and the finals against UNICS Kazan. Doellman was chosen as the 2014 7DAYS EuroCup Finals MVP.

In 2017, Unicaja Malaga ranked second in its Top 16 group and had the worst record among playoff teams. To keep advancing, then, Unicaja was faced with having to win at least one road game in each best-of-three playoffs series. The Spanish club, coached by Joan Plaza, played its Cinderella role to perfection and surprised everyone against all odds. 

Things did not look good for Unicaja in its quarterfinals series against FC Bayern Munich, which won Game 1 at the Audi Dome. Unicaja tied the series with an 82-67 home victory and went back to Munich to win 67-74 in Game 3 behind 21 points from Nemanja Nedovic. Unicaja stayed strong in the semis against Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar, sweeping the series 2-0 with double-digit wins in Krasnodar and Malaga. In the EuroCup Finals, that pattern repeated. High-ranked Valencia took Game 1, 68-62, but Unicaja tied the series at home, 79-71, behind 20 points from Jamar Smith. 

It all came down to Game 3, in which Valencia had a 56-43 margin early in the fourth quarter. Unicaja was without centers, as  Alen Omic had been ejected and Dejan Musli was unavailable due to injury. Forced to use Carlos Suarez at center, Coach Plaza's team held Valencia scoreless for 8 minutes while Smith and Dani Diez fueled an 0-18 run which allowed Unicaja to win the title, 59-63. Point guard Alberto Diez was chosen as the 2017 EuroCup Finals MVP.

Bursaspor has a golden chance to win the EuroCup title in just its second season in the competition, becoming the third Turkish team to do it -- after Galatasaray Istanbul in 2016 and Darussafaka Istanbul in 2018. It wouldn't be the first team to lift the trophy on another's home court, but Bursaspor would do something unprecedented should it win in Bologna on Wednesday: sweep through the playoffs to the EuroCup title with no home wins at all!

Frutti Extra Bursaspor, the 2021-22 7DAYS EuroCup's road warrior, is seeking to join a list of teams that won the title without any home-court advantage. 

Bursaspor hopes to join list of EuroCup champion road warriors

Bitim (1.96 meters, 23 years old) is averaging 12.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 18 EuroCup games with Bursaspor this season. He has played a key role in all playoffs game, allowing Bursaspor to reach the final against Virtus Segafredo Bologna on Wednesday. Bitim had 20 points and 10 rebounds in the eighthfinals against Partizan NIS Belgrade, had 14 points and 6 rebounds in the quarterfinals against Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana, and amassed 18 points in the semifinals against MoraBanc Andorra. 

Onuralp Bitim Top Plays of the 2021-22 Regular Season and of the 2021-22 Playoffs

Bursaspor, Bitim stay together

Bitim started his professional career with Anadolu Efes Istanbul, making his Turkish Airlines EuroLeague debut in the 2017-18 season. He has also played for Bakirkoy and Pinar Karsiyaka Izmir of his native Turkey. Bitim helped Efes win the Turkish League title in 2019 and has been a member of the Turkish national team. 

After this agreement, three Bursaspor starters – Bitim, Derek Needham and David Dudzinski – have signed respective multi-year deals with the club, which can earn the right to play in next season's Turkish Airlines EuroLeague with a victory in the EuroCup Final on Wednesday.

Only days ahead of the 7DAYS EuroCup Final, Frutti Extra Bursaspor announced a new agreement with forward Onuralp Bitim, who re-signed his contract until the end of the 2023-24 season. 

Bursaspor extends forward Bitim

Onuralp Bitim - Frutti Extra Bursaspor - EC21

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.

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