Regular Season
Round 25 of 34
Group Regular Season
w
l
w
w
l
l
l
w
l
w
Awudu Abass's EuroLeague return the stuff of Hollywood dreams
Article
3 Mins read
Hollywood's scriptwriters could hardly come up with a better storyline than what Awudu Abass provided in Virtus Segafredo Bologna’s crucial 88-83 win over Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz.
On Friday night, the man affectionately known as “Abi” recorded 10 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal and 1 block in his first Turkish Airlines EuroLeague game in nearly five years.
“It was my first game after five years. I was waiting to come back to EuroLeague and do something, and now is the time,” said Abass, whose last EuroLeague game came with AX Armani Exchange Milan on April 5, 2018.
What's more, Virtus's game against Baskonia was just his seventh appearance in 2022-23, as he only made his season debut – an appearance in the Italian League – on January 29. Since then, the Italy international added two more games in the league and three in the Italian Cup.
In September 2021, at the beginning of Abass’s second season with Virtus, he tore the ACL in his right knee in the first game of the campaign. Abass missed the entire year and then needed another procedure on the same knee early this season.
But all that was forgotten in Friday's game against Baskonia, as Abass played great defense after being given the difficult assignment of trying to slow down scoring ace Markus Howard. Yet, Abass ended up having a game-defining stretch between the third and fourth quarters, knocking down 2 three-pointers and coming up with a big block on Maik Kotsar.
Coming into Round 25 of the 2022-23 EuroLeague Regular Season, Abass had 35 games in Europe's premier club basketball competition to his name, as well as 72 in the 7DAYS EuroCup, but he was finally back where he belonged: on the court in a big European game.
“Abi was great tonight. We know what he can do for us. I hope that he can do that every night, because he is a big piece for us,” said Virtus teammate Marco Belinelli.
Virtus head coach Sergio Scariolo also singled out Abass after the game, saying: “A special mention to Abi. One month ago he wasn’t even a player, and we had an idea to start him and put him on Howard. Most of the time, he did a great job. He trusted our tactical decisions, but also had the personality to knock down a couple of threes. And he was really, really important in our win.”
What a story it would be if Abass’s return triggers a run of wins that gets the traditional club back into the playoffs; a story that Hollywood scriptwriters can only dream about.
Game Videos
- 01:13
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/20/B2KJQcVVjZQOcfKbhLuA2utmTA7qNzUR-1734737624137.jpg]()
Isaia Cordinier: 'We miss you, Toko!
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/MNO1RPkJITw/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Virtus Segafredo Bologna-FC Barcelona | RS Round 17 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:16
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/4dab62ae-417e-4b0d-9d39-1af3707564d9.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A109%3A128]()
Diouf dunks after classy Cordinier pass! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:16
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/dae9055d-488d-4422-98b1-b4abce99934d.jpg?crop=1046%3A589%3Anowe%3A194%3A81]()
Cordinier out of nowhere with the block! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:27
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/bb96d3f6-1448-45a3-8519-5cbfbd81ec17.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A270%3A50]()
Jump ball leads to Clyburn dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/4dab62ae-417e-4b0d-9d39-1af3707564d9.jpg?crop=634%3A357%3Anowe%3A216%3A142]()
Diouf swats Nunez! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/qf9io_7AvuE/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens-Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | RS Round 17 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/ee192902-44ed-49f6-8b42-fa51ab79f895.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A115%3A70]()
Nice alley-oop from Diop! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/2705678b-bcca-415f-867f-87dc8c8d2cc3.jpg]()
Olympiacos Piraeus-Virtus Segafredo Bologna | RS Round 16 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/285de101-6c2e-48e1-b15f-749a9e7673bd.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A129%3A164]()
Clyburn beats the halftime buzzer from deep! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:38
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/17/9Z6ymh3lK3wjnREsMeHTbdZoDqSU1dBG-1734470302799.jpg]()
Chima Moneke: 'This is our best win of the season'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/K3myS2EETAk/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv-Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | RS Round 16 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/25b1692c-1ee1-4898-b9a8-4f7678238fb8.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A132%3A41]()
Donta Hall makes creative bucket! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:58
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/13/yiYw7J1mdObtBpxioZUlot8gA6GBlW0A-1734080491542.jpg]()
Dusko Ivanovic: 'Tonight, we had luck'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9784b387-7c1e-4d89-b6a0-645268f0b32d.jpg]()
Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz-Virtus Segafredo Bologna | RS Round 15 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:16
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/ece3dd1c-da77-4e53-9e3f-293a5989bff2.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A126%3A135]()
Clyburn banks in the improbable shot! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/70d0a86d-5502-4469-8b4d-ca4b50a1ffee.jpg?crop=1214%3A683%3Anowe%3A71%3A57]()
Hall rises for spectacular swat! Motorola Magic Moment,
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/7b61257e-b9ee-44d2-91d4-46d0e1c150a4.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A135%3A80]()
Hall says give me that! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/_AHQFNY7GeU/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Virtus Segafredo Bologna-Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade | RS Round 14 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:30
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/d97c0f1a-1eb4-4a5d-809f-d6c556a42aa5.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A132%3A24]()
Clyburn and Cordinier combine for the perfect play! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/f2facf28-8946-41f7-8741-ff953f6bc2a5.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A164%3A27]()
Polonara denies Daum! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/a7338539-b552-4291-be32-4ae0cc61e82b.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A161%3A52]()
Shengelia and Cordinier sweet combination! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:31
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/05/UX9S9s5euN2NMqwbcOrPWUlWoksy6hB7-1733440995839.jpg]()
Devin Booker: 'We had the energy from the fans'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/cbc6f4e4-5b4f-4a8e-b1dc-416b50232a07.jpg]()
FC Bayern Munich-Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | RS Round 14 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:17
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/e15de13e-16b4-4fa2-895c-04103cd4ba9d.jpg?crop=1220%3A686%3Anowe%3A58%3A56]()
Moneke with the chasedown block! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/wgCfGu2ABpo/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Virtus Segafredo Bologna-ALBA Berlin | RS Round 13 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/ceb1ce8d-3d89-4ad0-a089-a32265fcc825.jpg?crop=1219%3A686%3Anowe%3A41%3A93]()
Clyburn throws it down! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/d18ebad5-3a42-48fd-9a22-89e0c5615b0d.jpg?crop=1179%3A663%3Anowe%3A86%3A108]()
Shengelia's double block! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:36
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/03/WvXGw8ofWhVeuxuDuOizrJKmOQtAs1wM-1733265775070.jpg]()
Donta Hall: 'We had to bring our hard hats too'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/7s7XqipWcA4/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz-Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul | RS Round 13 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/ba3efbd7-73a4-4682-9022-bdcb7785f8e6.jpg?crop=1220%3A686%3Anowe%3A0%3A100]()
Moneke sends Hall flying for alley-oop! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/46cf6979-c73f-4f79-bf4c-62999b88fc83.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A135%3A119]()
Donta Hall swats it away! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/rqHknWewwgU/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Paris Basketball-Virtus Segafredo Bologna | RS Round 12 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/a0d9bb97-958d-4ea9-b7f0-40741513c594.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A97%3A32]()
Ante Zizic with a big dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/92049d76-cbaf-455a-9562-a9286baa0b81.jpg]()
Zalgiris Kaunas-Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | RS Round 12 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/LLAQ-3xQlsE/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Olympiacos Piraeus-Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | RS Round 11 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/36a069ae-4edb-4377-bc01-c95ef7cf690e.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A80%3A144]()
Moneke’s block on Milutinov! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:16
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/ea535f1b-c431-4020-82b6-877fb4f8579f.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A135%3A38]()
Forrest rejects Fournier! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/9hK0SFuRquE/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Virtus Segafredo Bologna-Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul | RS Round 11 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/00b75cd0-79a5-41f5-8275-cb3ba273994a.jpg]()
Virtus Segafredo Bologna-Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens | RS Round 10 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:20
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/bb96d3f6-1448-45a3-8519-5cbfbd81ec17.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A270%3A25]()
Clyburn beats the buzzer! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9d22acee-dcf3-40d2-b30e-b53962988c92.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A131%3A0]()
Huge put-back by Polonara! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:14
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/4233ab3e-dfd5-48e7-87ee-6a9a577dd1bd.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A189%3A0]()
Clyburn goes coast-to-coast! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/HvSCwENkNT4/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz–AS Monaco | RS Round 10 highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:21
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/a72d06d3-59f3-4238-993e-aa432c4af93c.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A0%3A40]()
Moneke throws it down! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/sSNxEq5naNc/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Real Madrid-Virtus Segafredo Bologna | RS Round 9 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/31b1b3bf-f957-4bae-9fac-d4480dd4fdfc.jpg]()
Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz-Anadolu Efes Istanbul | RS Round 9 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/173f3bb5-7fc7-4bb6-98a6-87f4d7ff22f3.jpg]()
Howard with the sweet dish! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:15
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/f9ce026e-afad-4722-a730-24ec7f557292.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A129%3A30]()
Pajola's magic assist! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:37
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/08/NRWiMZQjN62Ub3EqupLu1lby2B0J87Uv-1731106233456.jpg]()
Toko Shengelia: 'The whole team should be standing here'
