Virtus, an impossible mission and Holiday. Fenerbahce is at the top, the American signs

La Virtus is in Istanbul where at 18,30 (live on Sky) he will face the for Fenerbahce. As expected the coach Dusko Ivanovich will not have Ante Zizic or Will Clyburn at his disposal, but at least from the point of view of reinforcements a step forward has been made. The Montenegrin coach has given the green light to the hiring of Justin Holiday for which the process necessary for membership has started.

Having closed the season in May in the NBA, the path is longer than the one that would have been taken if the winger had played in Europe last season. The operation costs around 500 thousand euros, but since the extra budget was decided by the club, there are no coverage problems, and there is always the perplexity, or rather the prejudice, of inserting into a group with an advanced average age an element who will turn 36 in April. In any case, his presence is not in question for the final eight of the Italian Cup, which will be played in Turin from 12 to 16 February, while it remains to be seen whether it will be possible to see him in action in the match on Wednesday against Partizan, on Friday against Paris or in the championship match on 9 February in Tortona.

The agreement reached provides for the former Denver Nuggets player to remain here for three months, the time needed for Clyburn to heal from the plantar fasciitis that affected his left foot, with the possibility of extending it until June 30.

Returning to today's commitment, the premise is that there is nothing at stake except the desire to demonstrate attachment to the shirt against an opponent who in Euroleague occupies second place, but still has to recover the match with Paris.

"I think Fenerbahce has played at their best in the last month," Ivanovic said in a club statement, "winning 10 games in a row. They are a great team, attacking very well with excellent shooters. They know how to open up the pitch with many players and always move with great confidence."

Achille Polonara, who wore the Turkish shirt in the 2021/22 season, also had a brief comment.

"We are facing one of the best teams in Europe – the words of the Ancona winger –. A difficult challenge awaits us on a tough court, but we are also aware that we can compete with anyone if we play our basketball".

The first leg ended with a score of 82-86 in favor of Fenerbahce with Toko Shengelia playing yet another monumental game, scoring 23 points. The prediction says that the Black V has little chance of taking home the victory and all these chances depend on an equally solid performance by the Georgian big man. Perez, Zamojski and Baena refereed.