News
2023-24
Luca Banchi, Virtus: 'Deliver performance to make our supporters proud'

Luca Banchi, Virtus: 'Deliver performance to make our supporters proud'

2023-24

3 Минутное чтение

Luca Banchi, Virtus: 'Deliver performance to make our supporters proud'

Second from bottom hosts second from top as struggling ALBA Berlin (3-15) welcomes red-hot Virtus Segafredo Bologna (13-5).

Regular Season

Round 19 of 34

game Virtus Segafredo Bologna vs ALBA Berlin

Regular Season

ALBA BerlinBER

6883

Virtus Segafredo BolognaVIR

Overview

The Italian team extended its impressive run by edging out Bayern earlier this week, making it six wins out of its last seven games, with another stellar showing from MVP candidate Tornike Shengelia. The Georgian powerhouse was also on fire when Virtus overcame ALBA, 87-76, in October, netting 27 points on 9-of-11 field goal shooting. The task of containing him will fall to Johannes Thiemann, who bounced back to form after a tough couple of games by scoring 17 points in Tuesday's narrow loss at Zalgiris.

Israel Gonzalez, ALBA head coach

"Virtus Bologna is the surprise team in the EuroLeague this season, but that's no coincidence. They play a very versatile offense: pick-and-roll, low-post game with Shengelia, one-on-one situations, great shooting with Belinelli - it's all there! And whenever things aren't going well, they can always rely on Shengelia. That makes Bologna extremely difficult to defend against. They're also strong on defense and put a lot of pressure on the ball. Virtus really is a great team. We want to play with a lot of commitment and energy again on Friday. Our defense has to be aggressive and our communication on the court has to improve. Offensively, I especially want to see good ball movement. We also want to make better use of the pick-and-roll."

Luca Banchi, Virtus head coach

"Alba Berlin is a dynamic, athletic and talented team that, especially in home games, is able to bring out its style. Meeting them such a short time after such a demanding contest, as the one against Bayern was, will certainly make our task harder, but we will draw the necessary resources from our roster to play an attentive game, focusing on offensive and defensive targets that can enable us to deliver another performance that will make our supporters proud."

Matt Thomas ALBA player

"Bologna is playing a great season so far. They're very talented, have some very experienced players, and Luca Banchi is doing a great job as head coach. That's why we're expecting a tough game on Friday. But we are getting better week by week. So far, our team's progress has not yet been measured in results. In many EuroLeague games, we were able to keep up for a long time but let the game slip out of our hands in the end. Our performance must therefore improve in the fourth quarter in particular - both offensively and defensively. But we remain optimistic."

Ante Zizic, Virtus center

"Alba is a very dangerous team, they showed they can beat everybody so you have to take every game very seriously and not by looking at the standings. We have to start focused and we have to control their aggressiveness, stop their transition. I think it won't be an easy game especially since it's a double-round week, many guys played several minutes last night and we travel today. We have to go to Berlin focused and ready to fight."

- In Round 3, Virtus beat ALBA 87-76 with Tornike Shengelia collecting 26 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists, accumulating a PIR of 32 and earning MVP of the Round honor.

- Johannes Thiemann tied his career high with 10 rebounds against Virtus in Round 3.

- Virtus's 85-76 win over ALBA in Round 13 last season was the first-ever meeting between these two cubs in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and the first official meeting between the two teams in more than two decades.

- ALBA's Gabriele Procida and Matteo Spagnolo were teammates of Virtus's Alessandro Pajola and Achille Polonara on the Italian national team at the 2023 Basketball World Cup.

- Virtus forward Achille Polonara scored a career-high 23 points playing for Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz against ALBA in January 2021.

- Virtus forward Jordan Mickey scored a career-high 29 points playing for Khimki Moscow Region against ALBA in March 2021.

Game Videos

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Strong dunk from Alston! Motorola Magic Moment
Virtus Bologna-Olympiacos Piraeus | Round 18 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague
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Virtus goes on a fast break! Motorola Magic Moment
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Matt Morgan finds the rolling Alen Smailagic for the two-handed slam! Motorola Magic Moment
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Niang hammers it home! Motorola Magic Moment
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Niang on the fly! Motorola Magic Moment
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Virtus turns defense into offense! Motorola Magic Moment
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Diouf's big block! Motorola Magic Moment
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Niang finds Diarra! Motorola Magic Moment
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Aliou Diarra rises for the contested dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
Virtus Bologna-Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv | Round 12 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague
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00:18
Jallow's reverse dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
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00:13
Luca Vildoza recovers from block and lays it in! Motorola Magic Moment
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Zalgiris Kaunas-Virtus Bologna | Round 7 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague
Virtus Bologna-Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens | Round 6 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague
00:10
Pajola's magic pass! Motorola Magic Moment
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Smailagic throws it down! Motorola Magic Moment
Six Feet and Under Club: Carsen Edwards
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00:16
Jallow with the impressive dunk on the break! Motorola Magic Moment
00:10
Vildoza nutmegs Ndiaye for the dunk by Diarra! Motorola Magic Moment
Virtus Bologna-AS Monaco | Round 4 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague
00:07
Diarra says ‘Not in my house!’ to Strazel! Motorola Magic Moment
00:15
Edwards goes coast to coast! Motorola Magic Moment
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Valencia Basket-Virtus Bologna | Round 1 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague
Virtus Bologna-Real Madrid | Round 1 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague
00:18
Niang's poster dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
00:13
Vildoza goes coast-to-coast! Motorola Magic Moment
FC Barcelona-Virtus Segafredo Bologna | RS Round 34 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
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Polonara’s big put-back dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
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