This is what the protagonists had to say after the Round 10 showdown between Virtus Segafredo Bologna and Frutti Extra Bursaspor.

Post-game quotes: Virtus vs. Bursaspor

### Sergio Scariolo, Virtus Segafredo Bologna head coach:

"We did a very good job until we built up a good advantage of 18 points. Then, when we rested some players, we got into a slump. Then it was a really tough one. They played well, Andrews was really unstoppable. Of course, at the guard position, we are not great defensively, but at the end of the day we showed character, we showed desire to win. Of course, we can play better, and I am sure we will."

### Dusan Alimpijevic, Frutti Extra Bursaspor head coach:

"For me, the most important thing is we did not give up until the end. We fought, we pushed them really hard. We made them spend real big energy to win against us. I have to be satisfied, I have to be proud of my players. We played good basketball, we played a good game. In these circumstances, we are very close to our maximum and I am very proud of my guys."

Virtus holds off Bursaspor 98-94

Virtus swept the regular season series against Bursaspor and improved to 7-6, while Bursaspor dropped to 4-8 on the season. Virtus led 77-59 late in the third quarter, but Bursaspor, led by Andrew Andrews, used a 0-12 run late in the third and a 0-13 run in the fourth to go in front. However, Kyle Weems scored 8 points in the final 3 minutes, including a pair of triples, to lift Virtus to victory. Mam Jaiteh scored 23 points on 9-for-9 two-point shooting to lead the winners. Weems finished with 18 points, Isaia Cordinier scored 17, Marco Belinelli netted 12 and Alessandro Pajola had 10, while Milos Teodosic dished 13 assists. Andrews shined with 37 points with 6 assists for Bursaspor. Onuralp Bitim scored 19 and Derek Needham 17 in defeat.

Weems scored 5 points early, including a three-point play, but Andrews knocked down a three-pointer before Bitim and Jaiteh traded close-range baskets that had Virtus up 11-10. But Needham made a three-pointer before Andrews hit from downtown on back-to-back possessions for an 11-23 lead. Virtus was held without a basket for more than 4 minutes before Cordinier banked a last-second three-pointer to end the first quarter.

Belinelli opened his account with a triple at the start of the third quarter and, after a driving layup from Omer Utku Al, a triple apiece from Cordinier and Belinelli got Virtus within 25-27. Ayberik Olmaz and Belinelli traded threes before Amedeo Tessitori tied it at 30-30. Andrews had a triple-plus foul for Bursaspor, but Tessitori, Belinelli and Weems gave the hosts their first lead of the second quarter, 38-36. Needham nailed another Bursaspor triple only to see Cordinier restore the lead for the hosts. Jaiteh and Weems combined to score 7 points in the final 90 seconds of the half to make it 51-44 at the break.

The second half was up-tempo with the teams trading blows. Jaiteh had a three-point play before Alessandro Pajola and Andrews traded triples to make it 57-51. But Kevin Hervey and Jaiteh scored inside, before Pajola and Teodosic each connected from the outside, in opening a 71-55 margin. Jaiteh's basket opened an 18-point lead, but the visitors answered by scoring the next 12 points with Andrews scoring a triple and a three-point play. Needham added a basket-plus-foul, too, cutting it to 77-71, and the visitors were within 78-73 after 30 minutes.

The teams went to the free throw line a lot early in the fourth, but Cordinier had 5 points, including a three-point play that opened an 86-77 lead. Bitim scored 7 consecutive points on the other end, including banking in a shot-clock beating triple. A fastbreak layup from Andrews tied it at 86-86 with 4:47 to go, but the visitors were not done yet as the same player put them in front before Bitim's steal and layup made it 86-90, capping a 0-13 run. But Weems nailed a three-pointer to make it 91-90, then another one for 96-94 with 1:17 left. Weems finished things off with a baseline floater 30 seconds before the final buzzer to secure Virtus's victory.

Mam Jaiteh 2- Virtus Segafredo Bologna (photo Matteo Marchi - Virtus) - EC21

##### [Virtus Segafredo Bologna vs. Frutti Extra Bursaspor](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2021-22/virtus-segafredo-bologna-frutti-extra-bursaspor/U2021/99/)

Two teams hungry for wins will meet in Basket City when Virtus (6-6) hosts Bursaspor (4-7). Virtus has dropped three in a row to tumble down to fifth place in Group B and must get back on track if it plans to finish near the group leader. Bursaspor, which has lost three in a row before winning is last game, is ninth in the table, though a victory would propel it into the top eight. Virtus overpowered Bursaspor 83-101 when they met on opening night in October. 

Virtus Segafredo Bologna and Frutti Extra Bursaspor square off tonight in a makeup game from Round 10. 

Game Night: Virtus meets Bursaspor in Round 10 makeup game

### Three-pointers are key to the Virtus attack

Virtus has tumbled down the Group B standings to fifth place with three consecutive losses and will try to start its climb up the ladder this week. Ranked fifth in the competition in scoring with 85.1 points per game, Virtus’s scoring touch has slipped recently. It has averaged just 69.0 points during its current losing streak and has made just 20 of 80 three-pointers (25%) in those games. The last of those was February 9 and Coach Scariolo should have his team ready to get back to EuroCup action and eager to turn things around against Bursaspor.

### Attacking the glass can help Bursaspor

Bursaspor has lost five straight games on the road, though its lone road win this season came in Italy, against Umana Reyer Venice in Round 2 in October. The scoring margin in those road defeats is 10.1 points, showing that Bursaspor must improve on both ends to grab a valuable road win and remain in the hunt for a ticket to the knockout rounds. The team has taken the fewest rebounds in the EuroCup this season (30.1 rpg.) and been outrebounded by an average of 4.7 rebounds per game. Virtus is among the weaker rebounding teams in the competition and has allowed the fourth-most offensive boards (11.8 per game). If Kevarrius Hayes, Dave Dudzinski and co. can control the glass, it could lead to more second-chance points and fewer opportunities for Virtus in transition, which would greatly improve the visitors’ chances in Bologna.

Two teams with plenty to fight for square off when Virtus Segafredo Bologna hosts Frutti Extra Bursaspor on Thursday in a makeup game from Round 10.

Keys to victory: Virtus vs. Bursaspor

Mannion has yet to meet the lofty expectations many had from him this season in large part due to a virus that sidelined him in the fall and delayed his start to the campaign. He is now back at near full strength and comes off two strong games with the Italian national team. The combo-guard can slot alongside the rest of the talents in the Virtus backcourt and lead the way whether as a shooter, slasher or playmaker. A strong game from Mannion could be just what Virtus needs to get back on track.

Needham leads the EuroCup in steals (2.0 spg.) and is eighth in assists (5.4 apg.). He is also Bursaspor’s top scorer (12.2 ppg.) due to the departure of Allerik Freeman. Needham will be asked to carry more weight and he has been in fine form, averaging 19.3 points on 16-for-30 three-point shooting (53.3%) over his past four games. Needham will likely play a lot of minutes and a strong performance is essential for Bursaspor. 

Guards Nico Mannion of Virtus Segafredo Bologna and Derek Needham of Frutti Extra Bursaspor figure to have big roles for their teams down the stretch run and that starts when they square off on Thursday. 

Major matchup: Manion, Virtus vs. Needham, Bursaspor

Niccolo Mannion - Virtus Segafredo Bologna (photo Matteo Marchi - Virtus) - EC21

There are special coach-player relationships that have formed over the years. And then there is the connection between Laurent Legname and Axel Jullien. 

Legname-Julien bond is long in the making

The Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse head coach and point guard have a bond that many married couples would probably envy.

Legname and Julien are trying to lead Bourg to victories this season thanks to a link that dates back more than a decade. In 2011, Legname was 34 years old and playing his last season as a professional with Hyeres-Toulon, where a then 19-year-old Julien was getting his first taste of the Hyeres-Toulon pro team.

“He was younger than he is now,” Legname said with a laugh thinking back to his one season with Julien as a teammate. “He was more shy than he is now, and you could already tell he had the potential and talent for a professional career.”

A native of Hyeres, Legname played nearly his entire 17-year career with Hyeres-Toulon - save for one season with Maritime Boulogne. He retired during the 2011-12 season and took over as coach in the Toulon youth ranks and coached Julien for the first time after the youngster had been with the club since 2009.

"We didn't need to talk much before he accepted the challenge”

It was the next step of a long journey that took the coach-playmaker duo around the country - and crisscrossing Europe as well.

Legname would remain at Hyeres-Toulon and advance to the pro team head coach in 2013-14 with the team in the second division. Julien was starting to make a name for himself too - having already helped France take the silver medal at the FIBA U20 European Championship 2012 - with Legname as an assistant coach.

In 2015, Legname was hired at first division club JDA Dijon and he decided it was time for Julien to play at the highest level in France for the first time and he took his point guard with him.

“We had just had two big seasons in Pro B, both collectively and individually. Axel had proven his worth at that level, and he had to see the upper level,” Legname remembered. “Dijon was looking for a new beginning so it was quite natural that I offered him this challenge to try to measure himself at a higher level. We didn't need to talk much before he accepted the challenge.”

Legname and Julien helped build Dijon into a force in France - and Europe. Dijon made the playoffs for the first time in 2017-18 and lost in the first round. The next season they finished third in the league and reached the semifinals of the playoffs. Dijon also debuted that season in the Basketball Champions League.

In 2019-20, Dijon were only a half-game behind AS Monaco in second place in the French League standings when COVID-19 ended the season prematurely. Internationally, Dijon would end up finishing third in the BCL after reaching the Final 8 tournament.

The success continued last season as Dijon won the French regular-season title and knocked off Monaco in the semifinals before losing to LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne in the final.

After five seasons with Dijon, it was time for a move for Legname, who signed with Bourg this past off-season. He told Julien about the deal before it was announced and also asked if the guard wanted to continue their journey together in eastern France.

“I really thought about everything. I had a lot of opportunities to go to other teams, but after weighing everything I decided to go play for him in Bourg,” Julien said.

The connection between the two is definitely a major help for Bourg players.

“For me, it’s better to help other teammates to help them understand what he is asking. Sometimes it’s hard for a new player to understand everything, so I will try to act between him and the players,” Julien said.

Legname values what he has in his bond with his floor general: “It's a relationship that doesn't take place too often in the professional world, but it's a relationship that brings positivity in every sense of the word,” the coach said.

Now, Legname and Julien are trying to take Bourg to the next level - with a connection almost unheard of in basketball.

Here is where you can watch the Round 10 game between Virtus Segafredo Bologna and Frutti Extra Bursaspor.

TV Info, Virtus vs. Bursaspor

Baltics: SPORTKLUB HD

Georgia: SILK SPORT 2

In-Flight Vision: IMG ARENA

Internet: [EUROLEAGUE.TV](http://EUROLEAGUE.TV)

Italy: SKY SPORT and ELEVEN SPORTS

Russian Federation: OKKO SPORT

Slovenia: SPORT TV

Spain: DAZN

Turkey: S SPORT2 & S SPORT PLUS

"Obradovic, The Return" is the latest documentary production from Euroleague Basketball Originals, though it could just as easily be called "Obradovic and Partizan, Love Story". 

Euroleague Basketball documentary: "Obradovic, The Return"

The 28-minute feature dives deep into the career of the EuroLeague's winningest coach and explores his special relationship with Partizan NIS Belgrade, where he finished his career as a player, started coaching, and won the first of his record nine EuroLeague crowns. By the end, the news that caught Europe by storm last summer, that Obradovic was coming home to coach Partizan in the 7DAYS EuroCup, is not just easily understood, but appears to be the next logical step in his storybook career.

Viewers will hear from players Obradovic has coached currently and in the past, from members of Partizan's front office and coaching staff, from the Serbian media, and others to understand how revered Obradovic is in the basketball world as a whole and in his native Serbia in particular. And, of course, the legend himself, who explains how he became Partizan's head coach at age 31.

"I was in preparation time with the Yugoslavia national team. I was the captain of the team that would play the European Championship in Rome, with a lot of possibilities to win the championship and take the gold medal. From the club, they found me, called me and offered me to be a coach," Obradovic said. "I decided that night, and I went to the airport to talk to the national team coach, Mr. Ivkovic. Everybody believed that I was crazy. I remember how my teammates joked."

In short time nobody was laughing and after three decades and a list of accolades too long to list, Obradovic is back home with Partizan looking to revive his beloved club after a rough period and carry it back to its former home as one of the kingpins of European basketball.

"If you sign Zeljko Obradovic, you cannot say you will build the team for the next five years, and after three seasons, you will start winning something," Partizan general manager and a former Obradovic teammate, Zoran Savic, said. "He came here to win immediately and from the very first minute, when he signed, he gave the message to everybody."

Filmmakers followed Obradovic through the preseason and the first EuroCup game of the season to see him working with his players and understand the relationship between the coach and the Partizan faithful.

"We are very proud of the fans that we have," Coach Obradovic said. "I try to explain people that to understand Partizan, you need to come to a game... All these years, I was in connection with the people from Partizan. It is my club, without any question."

"Obradovic, The Return" joins a long list of premium, long-form content from the Euroleague Basketball Originals platform. Among the other features can be found ["You Make Me Proud: A champions's road to glory"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyD0C66jt2E), ["Milan's ‘The New Old Boys"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2ySNsoDSGw), and ["Calling the Shots: The Anne Panther Story"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmiFlkJBTtQ).

Valencia Basket on Monday announced that veteran point guard Sam Van Rossom would miss several weeks of action due to a leg injury.

Valencia's Van Rossom sidelined with leg injury

He suffered a muscle tear in his left hamstring while playing for the Belgian national team. Van Rossom, 35, is a former two-time 7DAYS EuroCup champion, having won the title with Valencia in 2014 and 2019. This season, he has appeared in 11 of the team's 13 EuroCup games so far, averaging 9.3 points and 4.2 assists. All told, Van Rossom has played in 110 EuroCup games over eight seasons, two with Oostende in his native Belgium and five with Valencia. The club said that Van Rossom will undergo therapy and be reevaluated in several weeks.