In the summer of 2020, sharpshooter Marco Belinelli returned to the club where he started his professional journey to help it bring it back to glory and two years later he can call himself a 7DAYS EuroCup champion.

Tribute to the Champs: Marco Belinelli

In the summer of 2020, sharpshooter [Marco Belinelli](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/marco-belinelli/bcn/) returned to the club where he started his professional journey to help it bring it back to glory and two years later he can call himself a 7DAYS EuroCup champion.

Arguably the most dangerous shooter in the competition, Belinelli delivered buckets throughout the season and, as expected, played a vital role in Virtus Segafredo Bologna winning the EuroCup crown. Belinelli averaged 11.7 points per game this season despite playing just 19:22 minutes on average, mostly off the bench and never reaching 28 minutes in any of the 16 games he played. He knocked down 39.0% of his three-point attempts this season while also posting 2.6 assists.

Belinelli scored in double figures in 10 of his 12 regular-season appearances and then again in the semifinal road win over Valencia Basket when he was the team's second-best scorer with 14 points. In the EuroCup Finals against Frutti Extra Bursaspor, he finished with 12 points. However, the veteran shooter contributed a lot more than just his scoring.

 

Belinelli is not often associated with providing teams with a defensive spark, but the 36-year-old did just that in the elimination rounds, the most important games of the season. After collecting just 2 steals during the regular season, Belinelli came up with a strong defensive effort in the postseason with a total of 8 steals in four games, including a team-high 3 steals in the semifinal, followed by a pair of steals in the final, deservingly earning the title of EuroCup champion.

Marco Belinelli - Virtus Segafredo Bologna champ Final Bologna 2022 - EC21-Final

Marco Belinelli 2- Virtus Segafredo Bologna champ Final Bologna 2022 - EC21-Final

Marco Belinelli - Virtus Segafredo Bologna (photo Miguel Angel Polo - Valencia) - EC21

Marco Belinelli - Virtus Segafredo Bologna (photo Miguel Angel Polo - Valencia) - EC21-SF

10 One TEam, Marco Belinelli - Virtus Segafredo Bologna (photo Miguel Angel Polo - Valencia) - EC21

Marco Belinelli - Virtus Segafredo Bologna (photo Larry Langer - Ulm) - EC21

Marco Belinelli - Virtus Segafredo Bologna (photo Virtus) - EC21

Desonta Bradford - Dolomiti Energia Trento (Photo Marvin Contessi) 

Toto Forray - Dolomiti Energia Trento (photo Trento)

Diego Flaccadori - Dolomiti Energia Trento (photo Trento) 

Wesley Saunders - Dolomiti Energia Trento (photo Trento) 

Cameron Reynolds - Dolomiti Energia Trento (photo Trento)

Jordan Caroline- Dolomiti Energia Trento (photo Andorra) 

Johnathan Williams - Dolomiti Energia Trento (Photo Marvin Contessi)

Maximilian Ladurner - Dolomiti Energia Trento (photo David Grau - Joventut) 

Johnathan Williams - Dolomiti Energia Trento (photo Trento) 

Dolomiti Energia Trento finished its 2021-22 7DAYS EuroCup campaign. Check this Slide Show with its best 10 pictures! 

Top 10 Photos of the 2021-22 Season: Dolomiti Energia Trento

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana is the Slovenian League champion! Cedevita swept its best-of-five finals series against Helios Suns and successfully defended the Slovenian crown.

Domestic League: Cedevita lifts Slovenian League trophy!

### Slovenia: Cedevita wins the title!

Cedevita lifted the Slovenian League trophy by beating Helios Suns 81-101 in Game 3 of the best-of-five finals in Domzale on Tuesday. Cedevita swept the series and claimed its 19th Slovenian League crown - the club's second since Cedevita Zagreb and Olimpija Ljubljana merged. Yogi Ferrell led the winners with 20 points. Zoran Dragic added 18, Jaka Blazic had 16, Alen Omic got 16 and 14 rebounds, Jacob Pullen scored 13 rebounds and Edo Muric pulled down 11 boards for Cedevita, which outrebounded Helios by 31-54. 

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="lv" dir="ltr">🏆 ŠAMP19NI! 🏆<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ZmajevoSrce?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ZmajevoSrce</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LigaNovaKBM?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LigaNovaKBM</a> <a href="https://t.co/WNIdRs10xU">pic.twitter.com/WNIdRs10xU</a></p>&mdash; Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (@KKCedOL) <a href="https://twitter.com/KKCedOL/status/1531729679337631751?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 31, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>

Dragic and Blazic combined for 17 first-quarter points and Pullen buried a three-pointer to fix the score at 13-27 after 10 minutes. Pullen kept pacing Cedevita and Luka Scuka dunked to make it a 21-point game, 17-38. Cedevita kept a 36-56 margin at halftime and boosted it to 54-77 late in the third quarter. Nothing changed until the final buzzer, as Helios only rallied once the outcome was clear and all Cedevita fans had plenty of time to celebrate that their team had successfully defended the Slovenian League title! 

### Italy: Virtus returns to finals!

Virtus Segafredo Bologna advanced to the Italian League finals by downing Bertram Derthona Basket Tortona 69-77 on the road in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinals series on Tuesday. Virtus swept the series and will have the home-court advantage in the finals. Mam Jaiteh led the winners with 17 points and 9 rebounds. Milos Teodosic added 15 points while Toko Shengelia had 14 for Virtus, which led from start to finish. 

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="it" dir="ltr">VITTORIA E FINALE CONQUISTATA ⚪️⚫️<br>La V controlla la gara sin dall’inizio e porta a casa la serie conquistando la finale 🤩<br>17 di Jaiteh, 15 per Teodosic, 14 Shengelia 👌🏼<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WatchUs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WatchUs</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LBA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LBA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TuttoUnAltroSport?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TuttoUnAltroSport</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LBAPlayoff2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LBAPlayoff2022</a> <a href="https://t.co/sOwwxyc7Sn">pic.twitter.com/sOwwxyc7Sn</a></p>&mdash; Virtus Segafredo Bologna (@Virtusbo) <a href="https://twitter.com/Virtusbo/status/1531735119517687808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 31, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>

Jaiteh and Shengelia combined for all points in an 1-13 opening run which allowed Virtus to keep a 13-18 edge at the end of the first quarter. Marco Belinelli buried back-to-back three-pointers, then Isaia Cordinier and Teodosic each hit one from beyond the arc to break the game open, 25-41. Tortona got a bit closer, 33-47, at halftime. Virtus kept a double-digit margin throughout the third quarter and led 51-62 after 30 minutes. Tortona used an 8-0 run to get within 59-65 midway through the fourth quarter. Daniel Hackett and Jaiteh stepped up in crunch time, and Teodosic sank a three-pointer to seal the outcome and make Virtus punch its ticket to the semifinals. 

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana is the Slovenian League champion! Cedevita swept its best-of-five finals series against Helios Suns and successfully defended the Slovenian crown. Virtus Segafredo Bologna advanced to the Italian League finals. 

Domestic leagues: Cedevita lifts Slovenian League trophy!

Cedevita Olimpija wins Slovenian League title

Veteran guard [Daniel Hackett](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/daniel-hackett/001844/) joined Virtus Segafredo Bologna from CSKA Moscow just before the signing deadline in early March and brought exactly what the team needed with his warrior mentality.

[One](http://mentality.One) of the top defenders on the continent, Hackett's perimeter on-ball pressure was just what the doctor ordered for Virtus. It led to a transformation of the team’s defense, which allowed 85.1 points before Hackett's arrival, but dropped that to just 71.0 points in nine games with Hackett in the lineup.

Daniel Hackett Top Plays from 01/01/2022 to 05/30/2022

Tribute to the champs Daniel Hackett s top moments of the season_5847432.mp4

Hackett played 24:22 minutes per game in Virtus uniform this season and assumed a starting role in his second game with the team. It did not take long for the veteran to contribute offensively, too. Between Round 16 and the semifinal, a span of six games – all of which Virtus won, the 34-year-old averaged 9.7 points on remarkable 10-for-17 (58.8%) three-point shooting, while also posting 3.7 rebounds and 1.0 assists.

Perhaps, no better game personifies what Hackett brought to Virtus than the EuroCup Finals. In the 80-67 title-clinching win over Frutti Extra Bursaspor, Hackett finished with just 1 point in 22 minutes on the floor. However, he had a performance index rating of 10 thanks to his 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 6 drawn fouls, and despite the lack of offensive contribution, Hackett finished the night with a +/- of 13, a game-high. With that triumph, Hackett also joined the select company of players who have both the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and 7DAYS EuroCup titles to their names.

Tribute to the Champs: Daniel Hackett

Daniel Hackett - Virtus Segafredo Bologna champ Final Bologna 2022 - EC21-Final

Daniel Hackett - Virtus Segafredo Bologna - Final Bologna 2022 - EC21-Final

Daniel Hackett - Virtus Segafredo Bologna - Final practices in Bologna - EC21

Daniel Hackett - Virtus Segafredo Bologna (photo Matteo Marchi - Virtus) - EC21-QF

Daniel Hackett - Virtus Segafredo Bologna (photo Matteo Marchi - Virtus) - EC21-RS17

7DAYS EuroCup champion Virtus Segafredo Bologna took a commanding 2-0 lead over Bertram Derthona Basket Tortona in the Italian league semifinals with a 91-70 home win on Sunday. 

Domestic leagues: Virtus takes 2-0 lead in Italian semis

The visitors held 52-62 lead going into the fourth quarter, but Justin Cobbs opened the fourth quarter with a three-pointer before Filip Barovic scored 8 points to cut the deficit to 65-66. Back-to-back three-pointers from Marko Jagodic Kuridza and Petar Popovic sparked a 10-0 run that put Buducnost up 77-70 with 1:50 to go, completing the comeback. Jagodic Kuridza and Barovic led the way with 14 points apiece, Cobbs netted 13 and Popovic 11 points in a victory.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">🔵🔵🔵🔵<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ajmoplavobijeli?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ajmoplavobijeli</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KKB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KKB</a> <a href="https://t.co/qFEjz1z3aY">pic.twitter.com/qFEjz1z3aY</a></p>&mdash; KK Budućnost VOLI (@KKBuducnostVOLI) <a href="https://twitter.com/KKBuducnostVOLI/status/1531332093489340425?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 30, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica won the first game of the best-of-five Montenegrin League final series by coming back from a double-digit fourth-quarter deficit to beat Mornar Bar 83-76.

Domestic leagues: Buducnost rallies to win Montenegrin finals opener

Filip Barovic - Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (photo Buducnost) - EC21

Young guard Alessandro Pajola had his finest season yet for Virtus Segafredo Bologna providing top-notch playmaking and staunch defense all season long on their run to the title.

Tribute to the Champs: Alessandro Pajola

Young guard [Alessandro Pajola](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/alessandro-pajola/006739/) had his finest season yet for Virtus Segafredo Bologna providing top-notch playmaking and staunch defense all season long on their run to the title.

Pajola, 22, opened the season as Virtus’s starting point guard and he posted impressive numbers in 13 games in that role. He started the season with a 10-point, 7-assist effort against eventual finalist Frutti Extra Bursaspor on opening night and followed that with 5 assists and 6 steals against ratiopharm Ulm a week later. Pajola averaged 6.2 points, 4.6 assists, 1.3 steals and just 1.5 turnovers for an average PIR of 9.1 as the starter.

Tribute to the Champs Alessandro Pajola

His role changed with the midseason addition of former EuroLeague champion Daniel Hackett. Pajola saw a reduction in minutes as he started to come off the bench, but his heady play and tough-as-nails defense ensured a key role in Coach Scariolo’s rotation. In Virtus’s four elimination round games, Pajola averaged 16:09 minutes and posted a 13-to-2 assist to turnover ratio, including 6 assists without any turnovers in the final against Bursaspor. 

 

For the season, Pajola was second on the team in assists (3.9 apg.) behind only EuroCup-leader Milos Teodosic and third in steals (1.1 spg.). His aggressive defense led to 60 fouls committed, which was sixth-most in the competition. Pajola was a major force for Virtus all season and a big role in the team’s march to the EuroCup crown. 

Alessandro Pajola - Virtus Segafredo Bologna (photo Matteo Marchi - Virtus) - EC21

Alessandro Pajola - Virtus Segafredo Bologna - EC21-Final

Alessandro Pajola celebrates - Virtus Segafredo Bologna (photo Matteo Marchi - Virtus) - EC21

Alessandro Pajola - Virtus Segafredo Bologna - EC21

Alessandro Pajola - Virtus Segafredo Bologna (photo Larry Langer - Ulm) - EC21

Bourg announced Fauthoux as new coach

Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse started a new project for the 2022-23 season early with the announcement that Frederic Fauthoux will serve as head coach for the next two seasons. Fauthoux, 49, arrives from LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne, where he was an assistant coach the last two seasons.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">Frédéric Fauthoux, nouveau coach de la JL Bourg ✍🏻<br><br>En quête d’un nouvel homme fort pour conduire l’effectif bressan, la direction du club a décidé d’accorder sa confiance à l’actuel pensionnaire du club voisin, LDLC ASVEL. Bienvenue à toi, Freddy ! 👋<br><br>➕<a href="https://t.co/11ynRY3qaa">https://t.co/11ynRY3qaa</a> <a href="https://t.co/T3k9t29jXt">pic.twitter.com/T3k9t29jXt</a></p>&mdash; JL Bourg Basket (@JLBourgBasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/JLBourgBasket/status/1531193012675612678?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 30, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Fauthoux was a legend for Pau-Orthez, where he played from 1990 to 2007 and won seven French League titles. He was also a member of the French national team, with whom he won bronze at EuroBasket 2005. Fauthoux made his coaching debut in 2012 with Elan Pau-Nord Est, where he coached until 2015. He then moved to Metropolitans 92 from 2015 to 2020. He started there as an assistant to Antoine Rigaudeu and became the head coach in December 2015.

Sasheed Sulaimon - Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse (photo Jacques Cormareche - Bourg) 

Hugo Benitez - Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse (photo Matteo Marchi - Virtus) 

Calvin Harris JR - Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse (photo Jacques Cormareche - Bourg) 

Axel Julien - Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse (photo Gran Canaria)

Jalen Jones - Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse (photo Matteo Marchi - Virtus)

Jacorey Williams - Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse (photo Jacques Cormareche - Bourg)

Maxime Roos - Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse (photo Jacques Cormareche - Bourg) 

Pierre Pelos - Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse (photo Jacques Cormareche - Bourg)

Erik Mika - Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse (photo Jacques Cormareche - Bourg)

Jacorey Williams - Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse (photo Matteo Marchi - Virtus) 

Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse finished its 2021-22 7DAYS EuroCup campaign. Check this Slide Show with its best 10 pictures! 

Top 10 Photos of the 2021-22 Season: Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse

7DAYS EuroCup champion Virtus Segafredo Bologna took a commanding 2-0 lead over Bertram Derthona Basket Tortona in the Italian league semifinals with a 91-70 home win on Sunday. After falling behind early, Virtus held Derthona to 9 second-quarter points and outscored its opponent 52-29 in the middle-two quarters to take control of the game and series.

Milos Teodosic scored 17 points in 18 minutes to lead the Virtus attack, Toko Shengelia added 13 points and Nico Mannion and Amedeo Tessitori contributed 10 points apiece. Eleven different Virtus made a basket and nine players dished an assist. J.P. Macura scored 18 in defeat for Derthona.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="it" dir="ltr">2️⃣-0️⃣<br>“Tutti i giocatori con la faccia giusta…” 😉<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WatchUs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WatchUs</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LBA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LBA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TuttoUnAltroSport?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TuttoUnAltroSport</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LBAPlayoff2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LBAPlayoff2022</a> <a href="https://t.co/2Cdxzs3oZ5">pic.twitter.com/2Cdxzs3oZ5</a></p>&mdash; Virtus Segafredo Bologna (@Virtusbo) <a href="https://twitter.com/Virtusbo/status/1531018848165670914?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Zvezda survives stiff Partizan challenge to charge in Adriatic finals

Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade survived a late Partizan NIS Belgarde challenge to win 85-81 and take a 2-0 lead in their best-of-five Adriatic League finals series. Zvezda scored 29 points first-quarter points in taking a double-digit lead and led 47-40 at halftime. Partizan rallied to lead twice in the fourth quarter, but Zvezda answered through Nikola Kalinic triples and held on late to win.

Kalninic led all scorers with 25 points, Luka Mitrovic scored 14, Nikola Ivanovic 12 and Austin Hollins. Nate Wolters also dished 8 assists for the winners. Aleksa Avramovic paced the Partizan attack with 21 points and 4 steals, Mathias Lessort added 18, Dallas Moore 14 and Zach LeDay 11. Zvezda will try to sweep the series in Game 3 on Wednesday.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">Kraj meča. Crvena zvezda vodi 2:0 u seriji. Treći meč je na programu u sredu, a domaćin je <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KKPartizan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KKPartizan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ABALiga?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ABALiga</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/abaplayoffs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#abaplayoffs</a> <a href="https://t.co/RbaYwoWEsl">pic.twitter.com/RbaYwoWEsl</a></p>&mdash; KK Partizan NIS (@PartizanBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/PartizanBC/status/1531005802319953921?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Niccolo Mannion - Virtus Segafredo Bologna (photo Alessandro Scarpa - Reyer) - EC21