Virtus First Reyer, then Holiday's debut

The team that rebels against adversity, the Virtus, find an ally. Not today with Venice, not Wednesday with Partizan. Maybe Friday with Paris, still in the Euroleague. More likely next Sunday, in the championship, with Tortona, the last test before the Italian Cup. Even before taking the field, with the post-Istanbul toxins, Virtus discovers that it can count on Justin Holiday. The player will leave today for the States to collect his work visa and return to Bologna, precisely, in time to face either Paris in the Euroleague or Tortona in the championship. Born in 1989, Justin has signed a three-month agreement to replace Will Clyburn. But the club has kept a window open to extend the agreement until the end of this season. Behind him 703 games in the NBA, the ring won with Golden State in 2015 and the desire to demonstrate that he is whole and ready to fight.

"I am happy to join this team, this club and this city. I can't wait to start playing for the Virtus fans and win with them." Justin's signing, as well as the opening of the Euroleague to Virtus - next season the clubs should rise to 20 - must be filed away immediately because today, at 19 p.m., at the Segafredo Arena, there is a match to win.

On the other side of the field the of Reyer Venezia, which is worth much more than the current standings. Virtus, moreover, must deal not only with the absences of Clyburn and Zizic, but also with the fatigue that, however, coach Ivanovic does not want to hear about.

Tiredness, for those who play in the Euroleague, and Virtus has known this for a few seasons, means getting on and off a plane, training less and making it to Sunday... Tiredness or not, however, Virtus has made a virtue of necessity: it always plays to the death and never gives up.

In this sense, the hand of the Montenegrin coach is visible and felt. But efforts will have to be measured, because the commitments are many. And Toko Shengelia, one of the leaders of the group, will hardly be able to repeat the monstrous match in Istanbul, in which he reached the top, at least at the Euroleague level, with 35 points and 39 evaluation.

Having said that Attard, Bongiorni and Pepponi referee, here is Daniele Parente's comment.

"Less than 48 hours before the Istanbul match, we have a very important challenge ahead of us. We will be facing a very physical roster, our first goal will be to recover the energy to face and match their level of physicality. The impact will be decisive because Reyer can alternate different types of quintets. The key will be to play at our pace, managing the physical and mental resources in the best way".

The other matches: Reggio Emilia-Cremona 78-51; Trieste-Tortona 86-71; Naples-Brescia; Scafati-Sassari; Pistoia-Treviso; Olimpia Milano-Varese; Trento-Trapani.

The ranking: Trapani, Brescia and Trento 26; Virtus Bologna 24; Olimpia Milano, Reggio Emilia and Trieste 22: Tortona 20; Reyer Venezia 16; Sassari and Treviso 14; Varese 12; Scafati, Pistoia, Cremona and Napoli 8.