With Toko Shengelia — Virtus's star power forward — sidelined, a player whose career could have ended just a few months ago rose up and made the difference.
The Achille Polonara feel-good story went to new heights in Round 22
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Early in the fourth quarter of Thursday’s home meeting with LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne, it’s fair to say that Virtus Segafredo Bologna was facing the most delicate moment of its season.
Having lost its last two games badly, by margins of 17 and 24 points, it was imperative for the Italian team to get back to winning ways against the last-placed opponent, which was also struggling for confidence after a 63-88 mauling by fellow basement dwellers ALBA Berlin last time out.
But things were not going well for Virtus. A strong enough first quarter was followed by something approaching a meltdown, with Luca Banchi’s men scoring just 26 points across the second and third quarters. That allowed ASVEL to take full advantage and establish a solid lead, which reached a maximum of 11 points towards the end of the third.
Worrying signs... before a hero emerged
The distance was 58-66 with just over 7 minutes remaining and there was no real sign of Virtus mounting the comeback it needed. Especially considering the absence of the team’s leader and best player, injured power forward Toko Shengelia, who was barely able to conceal his discomfort as he watched from the sidelines.
All told, it looked like Virtus was heading for its third straight defeat, which would surely put a major dent in the team’s postseason aspirations and set alarm bells ringing that maybe, just maybe, the outstanding first three months of the season had been a long period of over-achievement that could not be sustained.
Then came the transformation.
The catalyst was Achille Polonara, who refused to give up on a missed shot by Ante Zizic, flying from seemingly nowhere to explode a lightning put-back slam, giving the otherwise worried Virtus fans something to cheer.
Momentum was further built by a three-pointer from Iffe Lundberg and a nice inside finish from Daniel Hackett, taking the run to 7-0, bringing the score back to 55-56 and generating real hope among Virtus fans that a comeback could be on.
The players were starting to believe it too, especially when Polonara then appeared with another spring-in-his-heels highlight-reel play, leaping high to swat away Paris Lee’s attempted floater with his fingertips. That block was followed, 10 seconds later, by Hackett draining a three-pointer to give Virtus the lead and send ASVEL into panic mode. The tide had well and truly turned, and the run was extended to 14-0 by a two-point strike from Lundberg and a pair of free throws by Marco Belinelli, taking the score to 62-56.
ASVEL never got closer than 5 points the rest of the way as Hackett and Belinelli continued to pour in the points, and Virtus’s incredible burst of action had somehow salvaged a night that appeared to be heading towards disaster.
The Polonara feel-good story went to new heights
It was fitting that Polonara played such a big part in lifting his team’s energy with his two explosive plays – a put-back at one end and a block at the other – because he has overcome more hardship than perhaps any other player in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague this season.
In October, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer and underwent surgery, ruling him out of action until Round 14 in mid-December. Understandably, the 32-year-old was then gradually eased back into playing time and has not found his best form, but the absence of Shengelia forced a big upturn in playing time and responsibilities.
Thursday’s game saw him play a season-high 22 minutes and although that put-back dunk was his only basket of the night, he certainly contributed in other areas: 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and the blocked shot. Not a bad all-around effort for a player who must have wondered whether his career at the top level was over just three months ago, and a perfect encapsulation of the spirit that allowed Virtus to grab a remarkable win and reclaim a share of second place.