Can Virtus Bologna win over Valencia Basket?
Today the semifinal of the Eurocup will be the most-watched game of the season because it is actually like a final of the competition. Even if the people expected another final more attractive between Partizan and Virtus Bologna. Instead of that final, we will have today an authentic clash: Valencia Basket hosting Virtus Bologna in a do-or-die. The winner will advance to the Eurocup finals, where they will meet and probably smash Bursaspor.
This season, Valencia Basket and Virtus Segafredo Bologna have met 2 times in the group and both times the Spaniards won the encounter even if by a small margin. But today it will be a different battle. The stake is huge and I expect a true derby. The main question is if Virtus will find the power to win away against such a great team as Valencia Basket?
The investments for the Italians were big the last 2 seasons and especially this one they look ready to advance to the EuroLeague. They brought in many great players, the famous coach Sergio Scariolo and the squad looks already as a Euroleague one. The addition of Toko Shengelia and Daniel Hackett, both coming from CSKA Moscow was the icing on the cake. My perception is that if we speak about the rosters, Virtus Bologna is net superior to Valencia Basket. The main problem to be solved by the Italians is the chemistry because sometimes they look like a bunch of selfish players.
Image credit: Eurocup
Gratian Cormos is a Romanian journalist, book writer and mentor currently living in Barcelona, Spain. You can buy his book “How to bet on basketball” ordering by e-mail at: gratian_cormos@yahoo.com
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