Virtus, a long agony in Belgrade. Clyburn tears a shy smile

MACCABI 77 VIRTUS BOLOGNA 67

MACCABI TEL AVIV: Jokubaitis 19, Blatt, Sorkin 12, Rayman 7, Williams 10, Clark III 14, Shayok 5, Dibartolomeo 5, Cohen, Menco 5, Mayer ne. All. Kattash.

SEGAFREDO BOLOGNA: Hackett 2, Cordinier 6, Clyburn 13, Shengelia 7, Zizic 11, Pajola, Grazulis 2, Morgan 4, Belinelli 5, Polonara 15, Tucker, Akele 2. Coach Ivanovic.

Referees: Mogulkoc, Latisevs, Vyklicky.

Footnotes: partial scores 15-17; 42-33; 65-45. Two-pointers: Maccabi 19/36; Virtus 20/41. Three-pointers: 7/23; 6/33. Free throws: 18/22; 9/14. Rebounds: 43; 41.

BELGRADE (Serbia) The light goes out too soon, once again, for the Virtus who takes his eighth consecutive defeat in Euroleague. Ahead in the first quarter even at +10 (2-12) and then at +8 (17-25) the black and whites stop without a logical explanation. Because in a flash, at halftime, the gap widens. It goes from 32-31, the last close contact, to 49-33 (partial of 17-2) with the worst sample. Lost balls, questionable choices, soft supports. The worst is yet to come: at -24 71-47. More than harsh expressions, as the iron sergeant Ivanovic would like, lost faces, scared, almost as if a basketball game were the worst of torments. The one who is worse, perhaps, is Justin Holiday, whose time in black and white seems to be in the final credits. After the non-entry in Naples, there is the stands in Belgrade. If it is not a definitive failure, it is really very close.

Clyburn, perhaps, is the best news for the Virtus: it was thought that the coach had brought him to Belgrade, only because the team will not return to Bologna, but will reach Trieste directly. And instead Will is not only among the twelve, but also among the five who leave with a great desire to make up for lost time.

It is played under the gaze of Zoran savic, who is at home in Belgrade as the general manager of Partizan. And we play thinking that tomorrow night we will be back on the pitch again, because the Virtus, after the defeat in Naples, must find his feet in Trieste. To be assessed today, whether Momo Diouf will be available again or not. Yesterday, the big man was at Porelli, working individually.

Finally, on the corporate front, the date of March 31st is approaching, the date by which the club is expected to be recapitalized. It will be necessary to understand, on that occasion, whether the balance of power between Zanetti e Gherardi (55 percent to the first, 45 to the second), will remain unchanged. Or there will be a change of address.