Tribute to the Champs: Alessandro Pajola

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.

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.

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.