Virtus, Europe is just agony. In Belgrade, Red Star shines

RED STAR BELGRADE 88 VIRTUS BOLOGNA 52

RED STAR: Miller-McIntyre 11, Dobric 2, Kalinic 7, Brown III 6, Petrusev 16, Nedovic 7, Canaan 9, Davidovac 17, Dos Santos 7, Teodosic 3, Giedraitis 3, Lazic. All. Sfairopoulos.

SEGAFREDO BOLOGNA: Hackett 3, Cordinier 4, Clyburn 12, Shengelia 13, Zizic 1, Polonara 2, Pajola 3, Morgan 5, Akele 8, Holiday, Belinelli 1. Coach Ivanovic.

Referees: Peruga, Shemmesh, Bissuel.

Footnotes: partial scores 28-11; 51-27; 69-37. Two-pointers: Stella Rossa 23/44; Virtus 18/33. Three-pointers: 10/24; 2/22. Free throws: 12/15; 10/16. Rebounds: 42; 30.

BELGRADE (Serbia)

And with this, it's 9 losses in a row in the Euroleague, five between the championship and Europe. In baseball there would be what is called manifest. Whether it is superiority (of the Red Star) or inferiority (of Virtus) you decide.

The music doesn't change for a Virtus that, after having given up on the weak links - or losers in Ivanovic's language - namely Grazulis and Tucker, shows no signs of reaction.

The now well-known and obvious inferiority in long-distance shooting is not enough. There is also a team that never gets to loose balls. That is punished, perhaps beyond its own demerits, by every dubious action. It is not, we believe, a question of legs. But rather, of the head. Virtus is in a prolonged breakdown, confidence has now taken other stages that, unfortunately for Ivanovic, never touch either Bologna or the Segafredo Arena.

Halfway through the second quarter, the game is already over because in addition to the 45-17 (+28 for the Serbs) there are the faces of the players who also reach -38, 86-48.

All to be thrown away? Reasoning only with the gut the answer is yes. It's not that by thinking about it you arrive at a no, because this Virtus is really ugly. But maybe there is something (just ina-ina). Akele who fights, Clyburn who puts more fuel in his legs waiting for better times. And that's it.

There is not much time to catch your breath because tomorrow night there is Alba. Another choice: either take advantage of the position in Berlin (Virtus' last success was in Munich, on January 17) or fall again. But ten defeats in a row, even if the Euroleague is no longer an objective, would really be a bad burden to carry then, on Monday night, at the Segafredo Arena. When the organized cheering, which has already made itself heard, could further get in the way.

Closing with Maurizio Gherardini, today in Istanbul, but often linked to the Virtus to come. During a recent interview, the manager reiterated how "Italy should have two teams in the Euroleague". And that Virtus, probably, this is also the hope, could be offered a short leave.