Virtus, here are the first smiles. The nationals convince

Two weeks, more or less, to detox. The Virtus he had the absolute need to forget the experience of Turin and the Italian Cup. Because, perhaps it is superfluous to go over it again, the defeat with Milan it could have been. But the surrender – even if it is a group that has never failed to contribute – has reached emergency levels.

After the defeat against Milan, however, the club and the coach, Dusko Ivanovic (pictured Ciamillo) have chosen a low profile. No punitive training, no measures. For a simple reason: the club is sure that, in any case, the team, despite having some structural defects, which have been added to the list of injured players, has never backed down.

Neither before with Banchi, nor after with Ivanovic, Virtus has ever let itself be outclassed by its opponents. Sure, there were some scary quarter-finals, but the biggest problem, in that case, was due to the tiredness of a group that had to face the double commitment, championship and Euroleague, but having to do without some important players.

This is why even the experiences in the national team have served to bring serenity. Pajola, captain of the Azzurri for the first time, Diouf and Akele have shown something to the national coach Pozzecco. Receiving in return minutes, trust and applause.

The same happened for Toko Shengelia, Isaia Cordinier and Andrejs Grazulis. Yesterday, meanwhile, scrimmage with Forlì: scores reset after each quarter and, aggregated to the group, the under 19 Matteo Accorsi. Today, tomorrow instead rest. Ivanovic will meet the group, including nationals, from Tuesday.

Then the two commitments at the Segafredo Arena: Friday in the Euroleague againstOlympiacos and next Sunday, for the championship, with theOlimpia Milan. The warmth of the fans could be the decisive weapon to give a little more verve to captain Belinelli and his teammates.