Virtus Bologna: decisive challenge against Trapani for the lead in the regular season

Eighty minutes left in the regular season (except extra time): the Virtus he looks around and finds, as an uncomfortable travel companion, Trapani. Virtus won against the Sicilians, an era ago now – Luca Banchi was on the bench, it was thought that Devontae Cacok would return sooner or later –, risking a lot in a frantic final.

To close the regular season in first place, Virtus wants to conquer the field of Scafati and then close, at the Segafredo Arena, on May 11th, with Trapani.

First place is worth a lot in perspective, even if Virtus, also considering recent history, has not always taken advantage of this factor. The team, however, has taken a different path, after having risked derailing, and now has a different pace and determination. Dusko Ivanovic he revised some hierarchies, he changed the minutes, giving confidence even to those who, until recently, had remained on the sidelines.

Meanwhile, today the contract expires Justin Holiday. Virtus has decided not to extend him – general manager Paolo Ronci had already anticipated it, on the day of Ivanovic's confirmation for next season – and is waiting to see if any corrections can be made along the way.

Otherwise the team will continue with the current lineup, that is six Italians (Pajola, Polonara, Diouf, Hackett, Belinelli and Akele) with the addition of five foreigners, Shengelia, Cordinier, Clyburn, Zizic and Morgan and the addition of the young Accorsi. A dried-up squad: Virtus expects to have no hitches because in playoff, however, will be played every two days and there will be a need to catch one's breath. It is true that pressing commitments will be a must for all those who will face the playoffs. The only team, at least on paper, in which abundance reigns, even in the 'grandstand', is Milan.

Closing with theEuroleague and the meeting that the founding clubs held in Istanbul. Many ideas, few (definitive) decisions. Everything seems postponed until the last week of May, when the final four will take place.

The idea of ​​expanding the team roster to 20 is holding up, but for now it remains at 18. There are projects that lead to Abu Dhabi, but just as many hold-ups. And there is the NBA unknown. Which, precisely, being an unknown, appears even more nebulous. But it seems to be meeting the favor of the 'queens' of Spain, Real Madrid and Barcelona. The Turks seem faithful to the Euroleague, the Greeks too, with the doubt of Panathinaikos. Or rather, with the puzzle linked to the figure of Dimitris Giannakopoulos, the whimsical owner of the greens coached by Ergin Ataman, who did not appreciate the latest refereeing. And threatens splits. Milan remains and Virtus?

At the end of the day, it should play for the last available spot with Alba Berlin, who, after years as a Cinderella (but without Prince Charming), would no longer enjoy the same popularity. Virtus, on the other hand, would.